Global financial services provider Barclays has made a three-year commitment to non-profit organisation Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), to invest USD 20 million to deliver financial services to 800,000 poor people in ten developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

For this program, Barclays partnered with international development agencies Care International and Plan International as well as with global management consulting and technology services company Accenture. Care International and Plan International are responsible for implementing projects under the program, while Accenture Development Partnerships, a separate business unit within Accenture, will provide strategic advice and technical and project management support. The Barclays-led program is designed to improve access to community-based financial services, such as village savings and loans associations. The program is designed to enhance and expand these existing services, as well as create appropriate, effective and accessible links to the formal financial system through new products and delivery channels.

The program builds on Barclays experience in the community investment/financial inclusion space, including projects in Ghana and Uganda. It forms part of Banking on Brighter Futures, Barclays five-year, USD 150 million community investment program supporting 1,500 projects around the world. On top of providing funding, Barclays will use its business expertise to help create linkages between the community-based financial systems and the formal financial systems. The program will use the skills of Barclays employees to design appropriate products and provide training and mentoring in financial literacy and small business management. 

 The CGI was founded by former US president Bill Clinton and convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative services to some of the world's most pressing challenges. The initiative culminates in an annual conference, at which each invited guest must make a specific commitment to address one of the focus areas discussed. CGI staff then monitors the progress and success of these commitments throughout the year.