Terms of Reference: Study on WASH and Financial Inclusion

The European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) is the leading network of European organisations and individuals active in the microfinance/financial inclusion sector in developing countries. e-MFP fosters activities which increase global access to affordable, quality, sustainable and inclusive financial services for the un(der)banked by driving knowledge-sharing, partnership development and innovation. Through its Action Groups (AGs) which are an important driver of the network’s activities, e-MFP provides opportunity for members to join forces on specific projects or activities on common areas of interest.

In order to meet SDG 6 by 2030, the water and sanitation economy faces significant challenges that must be addressed urgently. In total, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water; 4.2 billion people are without sanitation amenities and about 3 billion people lack basic handwashing facilities. Moreover, SDG 6 requires an estimated US $114 billion per year in the run-up to 2030 which currently is not available.

The e-MFP WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Action Group aims to tackle key information/knowledge gaps in the water and sanitation sector, and to map and define water and sanitation indicators that can be widely used by different stakeholders in the financial inclusion sector, particularly by the investors in their decisions.