ILO Social Finance Programme activities fall into three major areas:

• Vulnerability reduction - Credit, savings and other financial services that offer income-generating opportunities for the poor are encouraged, which can help reduce their vulnerability to risk.
• Job creation through enterprise development – Financial sector policies that set incentives to open up finance to the wider population are supported, to create an enabling environment in which microfinance institutions can operate.
• More employment-sensitive financial policies – The programme also promotes those institutions that cater to the financial needs of the working poor, including women groups and small and medium enterprises that create jobs.

The site offers a useful array of publications, working papers, links and details of the ILO International Training Centre in Turin.