Financial access can be critical to reducing hunger and poverty in three ways. First, financial access for agricultural value chain development is needed throughout the value chain to achieve broad-based economic growth for low-income households. Second, diversification out of agriculture is a hallmark of economic growth, but rural entrepreneurs require financial access in order to invest in non-farm enterprises.

David Roodman, the author of "Due Diligence: An Impertinent Inquiry into Microfinance" and Milford Bateman, the author of "Why Doesn't Microfinance Work? The Destructive Rise of Local Neoliberalism" will participate in a modified parliamentary style debate moderated by Chuck Waterfield, founder of MFTransparency.

Philanthropy is regarded as one of the most common ways that diasporas support development efforts in their countries of origin. Although diaspora philanthropy is by no means a new phenomenon, its relation to global trends in giving and the increasing role it plays in development are rarely explored. Philanthropic resources—both monetary and in-kind—flow from diaspora communities through multiple channels, representing a shift from traditional philanthropy practiced primarily by wealthy individuals and corporations.

Chris Hencke will discuss the FDIC’s treatment of funds underlying stored value cards and other nontraditional access mechanisms such as mobile phones. Specifically, he will explain when such funds are treated as insured deposits under the FDIC’s General Counsel’s Opinion No. 8. He will also talk about the potential risks faced by customers when the payment stream involves multiple parties who may be subject to varying degrees of supervision.