Impact Investing and Financial Inclusion

Over the past two decades, impact investing has emerged as a leading trend in finance and philanthropy as a way to align capital and wealth with values that promise to benefit people & planet, promote social justice & greater equality, create jobs, and alleviate poverty & malnutrition, among a host of other impact goals. At its best, impact investing can be an effective tool to address global challenges, if applied authentically and with measurable results. With the prospect of retrenched public funding for social programs and climate solutions, impact investing aims to fill critical financing gaps to create a cleaner, more inclusive economy.
 
And, while billions of people have been lifted from poverty over the last half century, signaling great progress, between 1.5 and 2 billion still lack access to basic financial services. They have no checking account, savings account or credit. They have no insurance or financial identity. In short, they lack financial security. Financial exclusion - or the lack of access to formal financial services -detrimentally impacts a person's quality of life, denying them access to the same opportunities, benefits and choices that many of us take for granted. The concept of financial inclusion aims to ensure that vulnerable populations and those at the base of the pyramid have access to and tools for effective usage of affordable, useful, and responsible financial products and services delivered responsibly by a range of providers.

COURSE TOPICS:

• Impact Investment Approaches Across Asset Classes
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Integration and Screening Impact Measurement and Future Growth
• The Rationale for Financial Inclusion
• Public, Private, and Civil Sector Participation in Financial Inclusion
• Emerging Trends in Financial Inclusion

 
This course is eligible towards the completion of the Certificate in International Development. Bundle your coursework and earn a professional credential that communicates knowledge and skills gained. Declared Certificate students receive 10% off of courses within the program.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 2

You'll walk away with

• An understanding of impact investing, it’s role in sustainable development, and key principles of finance and investment management
• A critical understanding of financial inclusion, the forces shaping the landscape, and the challenges that must be overcome to achieve it universally

Ideal for

• Professionals working in the financial services or international development sectors or in public policy
• Students seeking a greater understanding of the financial inclusion and social impact investing space