Gateways to Global Poverty Reduction and Financial Inclusion

Policymakers around the world are turning to conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs in hopes of spurring social and economic change in their countries. Yet, while CCTs have proven effective in achieving certain poverty alleviation goals, such as better health and education, only recently have we begun to explore the potential of CCTs to reduce poverty through wealth accumulation. The global proliferation of CCTs–due to their immense popularity and recent innovations in design and delivery– present us with a ripe opportunity to explore new and creative policy pathways to achieve poverty reduction by increasing financial inclusion.

Join us for a discussion of the new Global Assets Project policy brief, “Savings-Linked CCTs: A New Approach to Global Poverty Reduction.” This brief makes the case for linking CCTs to savings as a two-pronged strategy of supplementing income and building productive assets, while increasing effective financial inclusion of a given population.

The brief will be discussed by a panel of leading experts in the financial inclusion and social protection fields.

A light breakfast will be served.

Participants

Jamie M. Zimmerman
Co-author, "Savings-Linked CCTs: A New Approach to Global Poverty Reduction"
Deputy Director, Global Assets Project, New America Foundation

Yves Moury
Co-author, "Savings-Linked CCTs: A New Approach to Global Poverty Reduction"
Director, Proyecto Capital
CEO, Edge Finance, S.A.

Commentators
Michelle Adato
Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute

Mark Pickens
Microfinance Analyst, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)

Marguerite S. Robinson
Independent Consultant
Author, The Microfinance Revolution

Luis Tejerina
Economist, Social Protection and Health Division, Sustainable Development Dept.,
Inter American Development Bank (IADB)