In September 2019, at the 11th AFI Global Policy Forum (GPF) in Kigali, Rwanda, AFI’s
membership unanimously adopted the Kigali Statement: Accelerating Financial Inclusion for Disadvantaged Groups. This landmark commitment pledged all AFI member institutions to place five target populations – namely women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) and older persons (OPs) at the centre of its financial inclusion policies.

These groups are doubly disadvantaged, as they are drawn from underserved backgrounds and face additional barriers to financial inclusion. The virtual event aims to:

• Encourage AFI members to share experiences, challenges, and good practices in advancing financial inclusion for PWDs, FDPs, and OPs in line with Kigali Statement commitments.
• Bring in perspectives from external stakeholders working directly with these three groups including regulators, development partners, and civil society to complement the regulatory and policy lens of AFI members.
• Identify areas for potential future collaborations that AFI members can take forward via peer exchange or otherwise.