BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:unctad.org
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:6a58b6e94efb7
DTSTART:20250703T083000Z
SEQUENCE:0
TRANSP:OPAQUE
DTEND:20250703T100000Z
LOCATION:Sevilla\, Spain
SUMMARY:FFD4 side event: Financial inclusion for entrepreneurship developme
 nt - bridging the formal-informal divide
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:Access to finance remains a critical barrier for entrepreneurs\
 , particularly in developing countries where informality is prevalent\, af
 fecting in some regions over 70 per cent of total employment and hindering
  their economic growth and development. While digital solutions and innova
 tive financial instruments are expanding\, significant gaps persist in rea
 ching informal businesses and vulnerable entrepreneurs\, who are less resi
 lient to economic turmoil and less likely to benefit from government suppo
 rt. This side event explores policy frameworks and practical solutions to
  enhance financial inclusion while sustaining the gradual transition to fo
 rmality. It also covers best practices in mobilizing innovative financing 
 sources and instruments\, recognizing the different comparative advantages
 \, risks and incentives associated with public and private finance.Objecti
 veTo identify concrete policy recommendations and innovative financial sol
 utions that can enhance access to finance for entrepreneurs\, including th
 ose in the informal economy\, while promoting sustainable business practic
 es and gradual formalization\, by presenting case studies from varied geog
 raphies. A broader access to more reliable financing can substantially ben
 efit developing countries and promote more stable and secure economic envi
 ronments. Drawing on UNCTAD’s expertise in inclusive economic policymak
 ing and IOE’s global network of employers’ organizations and policy ad
 vocacy\, the event aims to bridge global policy dialogue with enterprise-l
 evel realities\, highlighting actionable solutions for more inclusive and 
 resilient entrepreneurship.Key TopicsPolicy frameworks supporting the form
 al-informal transition Innovation in financial products and delivery mecha
 nisms for underserved entrepreneursRole of public and private finance in s
 upporting entrepreneurial ecosystemsDigital financial solutions and FinTec
 h for informal business inclusionFinancial education and capacity building
 Gender- youth and vulnerable groups-responsive financial inclusion strateg
 ies&lt\;p&gt\;Access to finance remains a critical barrier for entrepreneu
 rs\, particularly in developing countries where informality is prevalent\,
  affecting in some regions over 70 per cent of total employment and hinder
 ing their economic growth and development. While digital solutions and inn
 ovative financial instruments are expanding\, significant gaps persist in 
 reaching informal businesses and vulnerable entrepreneurs\, who are less r
 esilient to economic turmoil and less likely to benefit from government su
 pport.&amp\;nbsp\;&lt\;/p&gt\;&lt\;p&gt\;This side event explores policy f
 rameworks and practical solutions to enhance financial inclusion while sus
 taining the gradual transition to formality. It also covers best practices
  in mobilizing innovative financing sources and instruments\, recognizing 
 the different comparative advantages\, risks and incentives associated wit
 h public and private finance.&lt\;/p&gt\;&lt\;h4&gt\;&lt\;strong&gt\;Objec
 tive&lt\;/strong&gt\;&lt\;/h4&gt\;&lt\;p&gt\;To identify concrete policy r
 ecommendations and innovative financial solutions that can enhance access 
 to finance for entrepreneurs\, including those in the informal economy\, w
 hile promoting sustainable business practices and gradual formalization\, 
 by presenting case studies from varied geographies. A broader access to mo
 re reliable financing can substantially benefit developing countries and p
 romote more stable and secure economic environments.&amp\;nbsp\;&lt\;/p&gt
 \;&lt\;p&gt\;Drawing on UNCTAD’s expertise in inclusive economic policym
 aking and IOE’s global network of employers’ organizations and policy 
 advocacy\, the event aims to bridge global policy dialogue with enterprise
 -level realities\, highlighting actionable solutions for more inclusive an
 d resilient entrepreneurship.&lt\;/p&gt\;&lt\;h4&gt\;&lt\;strong&gt\;Key T
 opics&lt\;/strong&gt\;&lt\;/h4&gt\;&lt\;ul&gt\;&lt\;li&gt\;Policy framewor
 ks supporting the formal-informal transition Innovation in financial produ
 cts and delivery mechanisms for underserved entrepreneurs&lt\;/li&gt\;&lt\
 ;li&gt\;Role of public and private finance in supporting entrepreneurial e
 cosystems&lt\;/li&gt\;&lt\;li&gt\;Digital financial solutions and FinTech 
 for informal business inclusion&lt\;/li&gt\;&lt\;li&gt\;Financial educatio
 n and capacity building&lt\;/li&gt\;&lt\;li&gt\;Gender- youth and vulnerab
 le groups-responsive financial inclusion strategies&lt\;/li&gt\;&lt\;/ul&g
 t\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/ffd4-side-ev
 ent-financial-inclusion-entrepreneurship-development-bridging-formal-infor
 mal
DTSTAMP:20260716T104809Z
END:VEVENT
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