NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Financial Inclusion Innovation Summit (FIIS), previously known as the Pacific Microfinance Week (PMW), is a three-day event that will include a formal conference, workshops, field visits, seminars, and roundtables, providing the region’s most comprehensive platform on Financial Inclusion for the Pacific’s financial sector stakeholders. Hosted by the Bank of Papua New Guinea, this event will bring together up to 200 participants from across the region and beyond to discuss and debate pertinent issues impacting financial inclusion in the region.

In 2017 the event is marking its 10^th Anniversary as the major multi-sector gathering of financial inclusion stakeholders in the Pacific and is recognised as a landmark event, over many years covering relevant topics, issues, innovations and world-leading case studies in Financial Inclusion. It attracts participants ranging from financial sector regulators, microfinance practitioners, advocates, academic institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, NGOs, domestic government agencies and others.

At FIIS 2017, delegates will access innovations, share knowledge, network and engage in technical exchanges to further the effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of financial services within the unique constraints of the region.. It attracts participants ranging from financial sector regulators, microfinance practitioners, advocates, academic institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, NGOs, domestic government agencies and others.

At FIIS 2017, delegates will access innovations, share knowledge, network and engage in technical exchanges to further the effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of financial services within the unique constraints of the region.

Wealth Creation as a key enabler of prosperity in the region will be a major topic, and important dialogue on long term and sustainable wealth creation across the region will be facilitated. Other topics which will be discussed and debated at FIIS 2017 will include:

The FIIS 2017 will be hosted by the Bank of Papua New Guinea and be held at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby from 29-31 August. This event will bring together up to 200 participants from across the region and beyond to discuss and debate pertinent issues impacting financial inclusion in the region.

An overview of financial inclusion in the Pacific region including the latest statistics and updates on significant financial inclusion initiatives.
•Industry reform and market responses – how can access to finance for SMEs be accelerated?

•Showcases of new innovative products, services, delivery channels and programs of financial services providers.

•Enabling microenterprise – what are the supply and demand side influences on microenterprise development in the Pacific?

•Customer centricity – Moving beyond access to design products and services which truly meet the needs of customers.

A draft program will be available soon!

It has been a few months since we released “Financial Health as a Global Framework” along with our project partners CFSI, Dalberg Design Impact Group, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Since we launched the report, we have been hearing about individual and organizational efforts to better define and use financial health as a way to better empower people in emerging markets. Building on this momentum we have been hearing, we are considering forming a global financial health community that includes governments, NGOs, financial services providers, researchers, and others that are all exploring this concept. We are confident that we can learn a great deal from one another, building on the great work that is already beginning around the world. Please consider joining us for a virtual dialogue to discuss this possibility on Tuesday, August 29 at 9:30 am EST. We will have presentations from a few organizations and individuals who are thinking about financial health, a virtual roundtable discussion, and some thoughts on next steps to pursue together as a community.