Financial Inclusion Compass 2026: the annual e-MFP survey of financial inclusion trends

2.e-MFP Survey of Financial Inclusion Trends

Welcome to the 8th e-MFP survey of financial inclusion trends, which will be published as the Financial Inclusion Compass 2026.

Since it began in 2018, the Compass has been a (mostly) annual publication series, a unique way of capturing the ‘pulse’ of the sector, especially the insights of e-MFP members and key industry stakeholders.

It has been 2 years since the last survey, and a lot has changed in the world - and in the financial inclusion sector. Some of it is positive; some is surely not.

It is therefore time to once again see what the sector’s various actors are thinking about, in terms of the trends, challenges and priorities ahead, and on some specific issues such as AI and the changing funding landscape.

This survey has 3 sections, the first of which is mandatory and the last 2 are optional - but we hope you will take a few minutes to complete.

Section 1 asks you to look at 1. a list of current trends, and choose 5 that you think are most important today; and 2. a list of emerging challenges, and choose the 3 biggest that you think the sector is facing. Both lists have a space for an optional comment if you can.

Section 2 asks you to select where AI may have the biggest influence on the sector, and who will step in to fill the gap left by reduced public/donor funding.

Section 3 asks you to look at a list of future priorities, and select what you think the sector should focus on.

The survey will take 10-15 minutes if you just do the quantitative parts, and a bit longer if you choose to add comments (please do so if you can!)

The results of this survey will be published in the summer, and in a different format than the Compass publication in the past. Thanks - and stay tuned!

Sam Mendelson

Project lead, Financial Inclusion Compass

Please indicate here if you would like your comments to be attributed to you in the Financial Inclusion Compass.(Required.)

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WHO ARE YOU?
Please select what category best represents you:

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Ecosystem enables and infrastructure organisations (Includes networks/associations, standard-setters (SPTF, Cerise, etc.), industry alliances, sector conveners, market infrastructure bodies (e.g., credit bureaus, payment switches), policy platforms, supranational coordination bodies)

Technical assistance providers and capacity builders (Includes TA firms and consultants, ICT/software vendors building tools for FSPs, data/analytics firms, rating agencies, training & certification bodies, digital transformation specialists)

Capital providers (Includes DFIs, impact funds, philanthropic funders, commercial investors, asset managers, private equity/venture capital actors in inclusive finance or fintech)

Financial & Enterprise Services Providers (FSPs) (Includes MFIs, commercial/microfinance banks, fintechs, savings groups or cooperatives, PAYGo/asset finance companies, SME/enterprise finance institutions, insurers)

Researchers and knowledge institutions (Includes universities, think tanks, independent researchers, policy bodies)

Other (please specify)

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