FinMark Trust, a non-profit independent Trust based in Johannesburg South Africa, was established in March 2002 and is funded primarily by UKaid from the Department for International Development (DFID) through its Southern Africa office. FinMark Trust's purpose is ‘Making financial markets work for the poor, by promoting financial inclusion and regional financial integration'. It does this by conducting research to identify the systemic constraints that prevent financial markets from reaching out to these consumers and by advocating for change on the basis of research findings. Thus, FinMark Trust plays a catalytic role, driven by its purpose to start processes of change that ultimately lead to the development of inclusive financial systems that can benefit all consumers. FinMark Trust organises its activities under focus areas. These have changed over time in response to opportunities in different sectors. Managing this structure flexibly has been an important reason why the trust has had impact: an independent impact assessment of FinMark Trust highlighted its ability to respond flexibly and opportunistically to circumstances, generally building on the momentum it perceives in specific market areas.
