MICROFINANCE EVENT: Financial Inclusion Global Initiative (FIGI) Symposium; January 22 - 24, 2019; Cairo, Egypt

Session titles at the 2019 Financial Inclusion Global Initiative (FIGI) Symposium include: Data Privacy in Digital Finance, Policy Considerations Relevant to Digital ID in Finance, and Data Analysis to Understand the Reach of Digital Financial Services. Speakers will also address trials performed in China, Egypt and Mexico involving the relationship between financial inclusion and access to technology.

Background on Organizers: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a Switzerland-based agency of the UN that originally was founded as the International Telegraph Union in 1865. It has 193 member countries and aims to connect people around the world, especially those in underdeveloped regions. The work of ITU generally falls into one of the following categories: radiocommunication, standardization, and economic and social development.

The World Bank Group is a multilateral organization whose goal is “to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity in a sustainable way.” As of 2018, it has 189 member nations. The group encompasses (1) the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, which make up the World Bank; (2) the International Finance Corporation; (3) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; and (4) the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. During 2017, the World Bank Group disbursed funds totaling USD 44 billion.

The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures seeks to promote safe and efficient payments and clearings, with the intent of supporting the world economy. The committee is part of the Bank for International Settlements, a group of 60 central banks that is located in Basel, Switzerland.

Cost: There is no cost to attend the event.

Event Website: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/extcoop/figisymposium/2019/Pages/default.aspx

For additional information, you may email the event organizers at figi-symposium[at]itu.int or call the ITU Information Services Service Desk at +41 22 730 6666.

By Tiannah Steele, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources

FIGI Symposium agenda
https://news.itu.int/2nd-symposium-financial-inclusion-global-initiative/

Background on ITU
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-world-bank-group-committee-payments-market-infrastructures-cpmi-international-telecommunication-union-itu-launch-financial-inclusion-global-initiative-digital-financ/

World Bank homepage
http://www.worldbank.org

Background on CPMI
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-world-bank-group-committee-payments-market-infrastructures-cpmi-international-telecommunication-union-itu-launch-financial-inclusion-global-initiative-digital-financ/

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