The Promoting Financial Inclusion and Innovation in Latin America conference will be held in Santiago, Chile at Universidad Adolfo IBAÑEZ (UAI) from January 15-16, 2026. 

This conference will provide an opportunity for researchers, industry leaders and partners, and policymakers to explore whether and how digital financial technologies and their related regulations can benefit underserved populations around the world. 

The conference objectives are:

• Deliver relevant, insightful presentations on the current state of academic fintech research,
• Engage with industry and policy leaders on current innovations in products and regulations and what evidence gaps remain to inform the next generation learning agenda, and
• Facilitate partnership development between researchers and implementing partners on the next generation of fintech research.

This Call for Papers/Sessions is to identify relevant, impactful topics for researchers, industry leaders, and policy makers focused on the following themes:

• Reducing barriers to financial services for underserved populations
• Driving economic growth with financial services innovation and technology 
• Innovations through open finance and open infrastructure 
• Improving government and public service efficiency 
• Strengthening innovation and trust through regulation and public policy
• Other

OVERVIEW

CEGA’s Global Networks program invites joint proposals from CEGA Fellows and CEGA-affiliated faculty to conduct impact evaluations of programs and policies in East and West Africa. 

A total of $90,000 in research funding will be awarded to 2 projects with budgets up to $45,000 each. We will accept proposals for research that was affected by US federal funding cuts. 

Eligibility: 

We will award teams of scholars made up of at least one  CEGA affiliate  (see here) and at least one CEGA fellow (see here). Because of limited funds, we are not able to award grants outside of these networks. PhD students who are advised by CEGA affiliates are welcome to apply (the CEGA affiliate name must be listed on the application). 

Grant terms: 

• Applications will be accepted for research in East or West Africa. 
• Funding will support impact evaluations (randomized control trials or quasi-experimental studies) that address a topic of critical importance to economic development.
• Research teams may request funding for a new project or supplemental funding for an ongoing project, e.g. for data collection or to add a new treatment arm. Funding can be used 
• Successful proposals will enhance the capacity of East and West African researchers to lead evaluations. 
• Funding may be requested for studies impacted by US Government funding cuts or pauses (e.g. RCTs that have completed a baseline study but are awaiting endline analysis; interventions or evaluations that could be resumed within the allotted amount, etc). 

Proposal Materials Required:

1. Cover sheet

2. Research proposal narrative

3. Budget narrative 

4. Budget - excel sheet 

For studies impacted by USG funding cuts, please make sure to attach your original proposal, along with an addendum (in addition to the budget sheet and budget justification). See thee RFP linked for more guidance.