FAO, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, is conducting a multi-country study of successful innovations in improving access to financial services for poor populations in rural areas through linkages between the formal financial sector and a variety of development finance organizations. The Rural Finance Learning Centre will host a global forum here to share the research findings and encourage dialogue on the key questions raised by the study.
Research objectives
To develop the conceptual framework to guide the research in the field;
To identify and review ten case studies that represent a broad spectrum of linkages;
To synthesise the main lessons learnt on a regional basis;
To provide recommendations to donors, policy makers, practitioners and others committed to the development of sustainable financial linkages in rural areas.