The Centre for Development Finance

The Centre for Development Finance was established in 2008. The Centre’s main focus of the research is on:

• The development of financial systems in developing, transition and emerging market countries.
• The impact of financial systems on economic growth and development in those countries.
• Strategies to develop financial systems, including development finance approaches aimed at increasing access of low-income households and micro and small businesses to financial services.
• Strategies to integrate financial systems of developing, transition and emerging market countries into the global financial system.

Research output of the Centre includes theoretical and empirical studies as well as policy-oriented work responding to current challenges of financial development and economic policy. In both cases the Centre welcomes cooperation with international financial institutions, development banks, microfinance institutions and consulting companies in the field. Against this background, the Centre collaborates closely with International Advisory Service (IAS) of the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (former Bankakademie International). On behalf of international donor organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international financial institutions (IFIs), IAS draws up and implements consulting and training projects in emerging markets and developing countries, particularly in the area of microfinance. More recently, the Centre has become involved in research projects sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst – DAAD) as well as the German Department of the Treasury (Bundesministerium der Finanzen).

Current research projects includes

• Financial system development and foreign banks: The impact of the financial crisis on South-East Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
• Financial globalization and global imbalances
• Microfinance institutions: how resilient to financial crises?
• Institutional aspects of microfinance institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Impact and implications of the financial crisis on growth and development in the Democratic Republic of Congo