The Centre for Inclusive Banking in Africa was established in 2004 as a part of an international programme, implemented by the Microfinance Management Institute, funded by CGAP and OSI. This culminated in the establishment of similar centres in India, the Philippines and in Costa Rica. The University of Pretoria’s Centre works with all of these, and also with a range of institutions in Africa, ranging from governments and policy institutions, industry bodies and financial institutions. The center fulfils three core functions:

• Education: developing and presenting courses ranging from microfinance to inclusive banking at formal and non-formal levels;
• Research: undertaking research studies in different areas and on diverse aspects of inclusive banking to the poor on a continent-wide collaborative basis;
• Dissemination of information: including research results in the form of conferences, workshops and publications.