14 Apr 2026
Thank you to the 95 organisations from 43 countries who applied!
e-MFP and its partners are delighted to announce that round 1 of the Luxembourg Award for Inclusive Finance (formerly the European Microfinance Award) on ‘Unlocking Youth-Inclusive Finance’ has closed, having received a near-record number of applications: 95 organisations from 43 countries.
Since its launch in 2006, the Award has spotlighted diverse and innovative initiatives in inclusive finance. This year’s edition highlights organisations active in financial inclusion that accompany young people as they navigate life’s key stages, helping them develop skills and seize the opportunities needed to build a prosperous future.
Young people face a distinct set of financial and structural barriers, including limited access to appropriate financial products, irregular or insecure income, and exclusion from formal financial systems. Addressing these challenges is essential not only for improving individual livelihoods, but also for supporting broader economic development and stability.
The evaluation team is therefore delighted to have received such a large and diverse field of applicants and initiatives from across 43 countries, representing a wide range of institutional types. These include 44 microfinance institutions (including NBFIs, NGOs and other forms), 18 fintechs, 12 non-financial NGOs, 7 banks, 5 cooperatives or credit unions, 3 other private sector organisations, 5 organisations in other categories, and 1 insurance company.
The evaluation team will now begin assessing these applications against a rigorous evaluation framework, with established criteria for both eligibility and innovation. This process will determine which applicants are invited to participate in Round 2. The Round 2 cohort will then be further reduced to a shortlist for review by an expert Selection Committee, composed largely of e-MFP and InFiNe.lu members, which will meet in September to select the semi-finalists and three finalists. These finalists will be evaluated by a High Jury, with the winner announced during the Inclusive Finance 26 (IF26) conference in November.
The organisers would like to thank all the organisations that have taken part in this application round and are really excited to begin coordinating the evaluation of what promises to be a fascinating and highly competitive field of youth-inclusive initiatives.