Navigating Financial Regulations & Unlocking Investment for Forcibly Displaced Communities

DLA Piper
160 Aldersgate Street
London
EC1A 4HT

The over 122 million people uprooted from their homes due to persecution, conflict and climate emergencies are full of potential. Yet they face dauting challenges as they seek to rebuild their lives.

For refugees, access to financial services in host countries is key to their economic survival. Without it, they cannot open a bank account to receive their wages, open businesses and track transferable credit, critical for those seeking to return home. However, regulatory and documentation barriers in many countries often prevent forcibly displaced people from accessing bank or mobile money accounts, limiting their economic inclusion and integration into local communities.

To address these challenges, UNHCR works with key private sector partners, such as DLA Piper to expand existing initiatives and pilot new programs. The objective is removing barriers to financial services for refugees.

In 2024 alone, UNHCR delivered life-saving cash assistance to more than 6 million people in over 100 countries, enabling recipients to meet their needs with dignity and choice. Financial services providers played a vital role in enabling these efforts and continue to be actively engaged in co-creating innovative solutions that bridge the financial inclusion gap.

Join us to explore strategies that address urgent humanitarian needs while promoting financial empowerment of both displaced and host communities. This is a unique opportunity for financial service stakeholders to make a difference, engage with an underserved market and uncover new customer segments. Expect to gain global insights, discover enabling factors, challenge perceptions and seize potential opportunities.

15:00 – 15:10   Welcome speech


15:10 – 15:20   Keynote address: Financial inclusion, a path to resilience and self-reliance


15:20 – 15:45   Global study insights: Presentation of key findings and their implications for the financial services sector


15:45 – 16:05   Spotlight on success: On-stage Interviews with refugee entrepreneurs and the role of financial inclusion in their journeys


16:05 – 16:55   Panel discussion and Q&A session - Unlocking investment opportunities for the financial inclusion of refugees


16:55 – 17:10   Coffee break


17:10 – 18:00   Presentation of good practices and enabling environments: Building inclusive financial ecosystems


18:00 – 20:00   Networking during cocktail reception