Poor people, particularly those in developing countries, face countless challenges when it comes to accessing financial services. Credit may be available through informal channels that are usually insecure and come at a high cost to borrowers. Microfinancing offers access to loans, insurance, and money transfers to allow people living in poverty the opportunity to run their own businesses and build up their assets in order to better their livelihoods. Features Guy Winship from World Education Australia, Terry Reid from the Asian Development Bank, and John Conroy from the Foundation for Development Cooperation.