The MasterCard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion 2015

The MasterCard Foundation will be holding its first ever symposium in Africa, The MasterCard Foundation Symposium in Cape Town South Africa on November 19^th to 20^th. This is an annual conference, hosted by The MasterCard Foundation in partnership with the Boulder Institute of Microfinance.

The symposium attracts the world’s leading experts and practitioners in the field of financial inclusion in developing countries, majority of which are found in Africa. Current trends in the financial sector, exploring ways to move more quickly and with more impact to bring secure, affordable, convenient and appropriate financial services and products to the world’s two billion people who currently lack access to them are some of the issues that will be discussed during this annual event.

This MasterCard Foundation Symposium in South Africa marks the third time the Symposium is being held. Previous Symposia have been held in Turin, Italy, site of the summer school in microfinance organized by our partner, the Boulder Institute of Microfinance. In Africa, this is the first ever symposium by The MasterCard Foundation. This implies that most of the activities by the MasterCard Foundation are found in Africa.

The audience for this great event will include representatives from financial service providers (FSPs) such as banks, microfinance institutions, insurance firms, and many other.; organizations providing related services such as mobile network operators, agro-industry companies; NGOs working on these issues with people living in poverty; researchers; as well as members of the media. This year, more than 300 participants from 56 countries are expected to attend this symposium.

Speakers in The MasterCard Foundation Symposium include leaders from companies known for client-centric practices that respond better to customer needs and wishes: Unilever, MetLife, Cellulant (Nigeria), YES Bank (India), Equity Bank (Kenya), and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.