Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the core objectives and trade-offs of **Financial Inclusion Policy** (e.g., inclusion vs. integrity/stability).
• Evaluate the full range of policy tools, including **proportional regulation, infrastructure development, and financial capability** programs.
• Design and implement a coherent **National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS)** aligned with national development goals.
• Apply the principle of **proportionality** to adapt prudential and AML/CFT regulations for low-risk, unbanked populations.
• Develop robust **consumer protection and market conduct frameworks** specifically tailored for digital financial services (DFS) and last-mile delivery.
• Understand the regulatory challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies like FinTech, mobile money, and alternative credit scoring.
• Analyze the regulatory requirements for **Credit Information Sharing (CIS)** and payment system interoperability to promote inclusion.
• Implement effective **monitoring and evaluation (M&E)** frameworks to track progress on access, usage, and quality.

• Senior Policy Makers and Regulators from Central Banks and Ministries of Finance
• Financial Inclusion Strategy Leaders and NFIS Secretariat Staff
• International Development Professionals and Consultants specializing in Financial Sector Development
• FinTech and Payments System Regulator/Policy Leads
• Compliance Officers and Risk Managers focused on Inclusive Finance
• Economists and Analysts involved in Financial Sector Reform
• Heads of Public and Development Finance Institutions

• Case Studies analyzing major financial inclusion policy reforms and their outcomes (e.g., India, Kenya, Peru).
• Group Activities on designing a proportional AML/CFT regime for a low-value digital wallet.
• Discussions on balancing FinTech innovation with consumer data privacy rights.
• Individual Exercises on developing a set of policy recommendations for improving Credit Information Sharing.
• Policy workshop simulation on achieving regulatory consensus on payment system interoperability.
• Review of high-level policy papers from international bodies (GPFI, AFI, World Bank).

Unit 1: The Foundations of Inclusion Policy

• The economic, social, and political case for maximizing financial inclusion.
• The core policy trade-offs: Inclusion vs. Financial Integrity (AML/CFT) and Stability.
• Review of the **G20/GPFI Principles** for Innovative Financial Inclusion.
• The role of policy makers, regulators, and the private sector in the ecosystem.

• Designing the governance and coordination framework for a **National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS)**.
• Conducting a diagnostic gap analysis and setting measurable targets (access, usage, quality).
• Aligning NFIS objectives with broader national goals (e.g., gender equality, poverty reduction).
• Developing a comprehensive **M&E framework** for tracking NFIS progress.

Unit 2: Regulation and Proportionality

• Applying the **Risk-Based Approach (RBA)** to AML/CFT and designing Simplified CDD (SDD).
• Tailoring prudential rules (capital, liquidity) for non-bank financial institutions (e.g., MFIs, MMOs).
• The role of **Regulatory Sandboxes** and Innovation Hubs in fostering compliant solutions.
• Policy approaches to managing systemic risk from large-scale mobile money systems.

• Adapting UDAAP and disclosure regimes for the digital and last-mile environment.
• Establishing effective consumer recourse and dispute resolution for mobile money and digital credit.
• Designing **Gender-Inclusive Financial Regulation (GIFR)** to address systemic barriers for women.
• Regulating alternative data use and algorithmic bias in credit scoring.

Unit 3: Infrastructure and Technology

• Policy requirements for **Payment System Interoperability** and open access.
• Regulating **Agent Banking and Shared Networks** for last-mile delivery.
• The role of national **Digital Identity (ID)** systems in accelerating inclusion.
• Regulatory framework for **Credit Information Sharing (CIS)** to build credit histories.

Unit 4: Public Policy Tools for Capability

• Developing and funding a National Financial Capability and Education Strategy.
• Applying **Behavioral Economics (BE)** to policy design (nudges, choice architecture).
• Mandating product-neutral consumer education by financial service providers.
• Policy support for community-based financial counseling and advisory services.