Financial Services Implementation Grant Program

The Implementation Grant Program (IGP) is a key grant mechanism used by USAID for knowledge generation and is practitioner-driven, action oriented, collaborative, and reflective in its activities; SEEP facilitates the learning between IGP grantees. The purpose of the Learning Network is to encourage technical exchanges, discussion, and learning on different approaches and tools that are being used in the programs.  The learning networks are funded by USAID through the FIELD mechanism.  

The Financial Services IGP Learning Network focused on moving down market to offer financial services to poor and other vulnerable populations.  The Financial Services IGP grantees included:

• FINCA in Mexico, exploring bank-MFI partnerships
• WOCCU in Peru, value chain financing
• Shorebank in Pakistan, financial services program in remote post-earthquake regions
• Opportunity International in Malawi, utilizing mobile banking and smart cards to reach poor clients with financial services
• Save the Children in Morocco, testing microfinance and financial education programs for youth

The learning products from this IGP focus on:

•   Developing and implementing household surveys in challenging environments
•  Developing cost-benefit analysis tools of financial delivery channels
•  Implementing a value chain finance program
•  Learning from pilot programs
• Delivering financial services and training to youth
• Partnerships between banks and MFIs
• Training clients on using new technologies
• Addressing back-end technology barriers
• Launching an m-banking program
• Lessons and challenges from pilot projects and local partnerships
• The challenges of MFI transformation