The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is an inclusive platform for all G20 countries, interested non-G20 countries and relevant stakeholders to carry forward work on financial inclusion, including implementation of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan, endorsed at the G20 Summit in Seoul.
At the G20 Summit in Seoul, the Leaders of the G20, recognizing financial inclusion as one of the main pillars of the global development agenda, endorsed a concrete Financial Inclusion Action Plan. Financial inclusion was not only prominently included in the Leaders' Declaration, but was also highlighted as an important component under the Seoul Development Consensus and the financial sector reform agenda. Subsequently, the Leaders announced the establishment of the GPFI to institutionalize and continue the work began by the Financial Inclusion Experts Group (FIEG) in 2010. The GPFI was officially launched on 10 December 2010 in Seoul.
The GPFI is the main implementing mechanism of the endorsed action plan by G20 Leaders during the Seoul Summit and functions as an inclusive platform for G20 countries, non-G20 countries and relevant stakeholders for peer learning, knowledge sharing, policy advocacy and coordination. It contributes to strengthen coordination and collaboration as called for in the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan. Spearheading the implementation were the three key Implementing Partners: the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 2012, the World Bank Group and the SME Finance Forum joined the GPFI as Implementing Partner. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) joined the GPFI as Implementing Partner in 2013. In 2014, The Better Than Cash Alliance and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) also joined as Implementing Partners.
The GPFI's efforts include helping countries put into practice the G20 Principles for Innovative Financial Inclusion, strengthening data for measuring financial inclusion, and developing methodologies for countries wishing to set targets.
The GPFI Terms of Reference are available here.
Honorary Patron
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is the Honorary Patron of the GPFI. She was invited to this role in June 2011 in her capacity as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). As Honorary Patron of the GPFI, her main task is to advocate for financial inclusion and promote GPFI's work in the international arena. This includes advocating the importance of coherence among multilateral and international policy initiatives, as well as the importance of engaging relevant stakeholders. She also uses her considerable experience in the area of promoting financial inclusion to raise the profile of inclusive finance worldwide. Before the launch of the GPFI following the G20 Summit in Seoul, Queen Máxima was Honorary Chair of the G20 SME Finance Data Working Group.