The 2009 AFI Global Policy Forum

AFI's first Global Policy Forum in Nairobi brings together policymakers from 40 developing countries

100 policymakers from more than 40 developing countries, in addition to around 70 strategic partners, met in Nairobi 14-16 September for the first-ever Global Policy Forum of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI). A year after AFI was established, the Forum, co-hosted with the Central Bank of Kenya, provided a platform for central banks and other policymaking bodies in developing countries to share knowledge and experiences in expanding access to financial services.

The Forum succeeded in its objectives of building a vibrant community of policymakers who feel free and able to share their knowledge of policy solutions that work, and of drawing on the collective knowledge of AFI members and strategic partners, including researchers, donors and the private sector, to create a practical roadmap for moving forward.

Each day of the Forum had a different theme, each one addressing the key issues needed to bring smart policies to life:

· The first day of the Forum focused on Key Financial Inclusion Policy Challenges and saw speeches by high-level dignitaries such as the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance of Kenya and Professors Njuguna Ndung’u and Benno Ndulu, the Governors of the Central Banks of Kenya and Tanzania, respectively.  The day brought us up to speed on the state of financial inclusion worldwide, with discussions on key regulatory challenges such as the role of data and survey methodology and compliance with international standards.

· The second day aimed at Generating Practical Answers Together, through interactive “fishbowls” or roundtable discussions covering AFI’s six key policy areas: agent banking, mobile banking, diversification of products and providers, state bank reform, financial identity and consumer protection. Throughout the day, “out of the box” side events offered participants fresh perspectives and new learning opportunities in the area of financial inclusion.

· The third day centered on Experiencing Smart Policies in Action, with policymakers and practitioners showcasing how they have brought smart policies to life. Through demonstrations of agent banking in Brazil, the M-PESA mobile banking phenomenon in Kenya, and role plays on consumer literacy and on getting a biometric financial identity card, we were put in the shoes of a person without access to financial services.

Interim results of a survey conducted immediately after the Forum points to a remarkable level of satisfaction amongst participants. An overwhelming 70 percent of respondents so far reported being “very satisfied” with the Forum, with an additional 29 percent stating they were “satisfied.” Policymakers and partners who attended the Forum appreciated the unique opportunities it offered for networking and knowledge-exchange and the interactive nature of the sessions, with practitioners doing the teaching. The diversity of participants, topics and formats was also singled out as a key reason for the Forum’s success. The topic of mobile banking generated particular interest at the Forum, with the M-PESA demonstration and the mobile banking fishbowl the most top-rated sessions.