IDG4FI

Inner Development Goals for Financial Inclusion

Welcome to the IDG4FI Hub — a space for financial inclusion changemakers who believe that resilience and systemic change begin from within. We skip the buzzwords in favor of honest, grounded conversations about leading with courage and presence through complexity.

We’ve seen it:
Institutions cracking in crisis.
ESG reduced to checkbox theater.
Technology outpacing trust, meaning, and human capacity.

The world is shifting fast, and Finance is its nervous system! Our leadership capacity will define how we show up for the people we serve.

The answer isn’t more KPIs — it’s our inner capacity - our the ability to stay human, present, and discerning when it matters most.

IDG4FI is the leadership reset our sector needs:
  • Presence over panic.
  • Curiosity over blind run for efficiency.
  • Connection over silos and technicalities.
At IDG4FI, we aim to listen with intention, advise each other with humility, and collaborate on systemic opportunities – shaping the future of financial inclusion.
Unlock Human Potential ↓

Get Involved (open a form) ↗

5/23

Born from the slow progress toward the SDGs, the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are a framework for essential human skills needed to face today’s global challenges.

Being
Relationship to Self
  • Inner Compass
  • Integrity and Authenticity
  • Openness and Learning Mindset
  • Self-awareness
  • Presence
Thinking
Cognitive Skills
  • Critical Thinking
  • Complexity Awareness
  • Perspective Skills
  • Sense-making
  • Long-term Orientation and Visioning
Relating
Caring for Others and the World
  • Appreciation
  • Connectedness
  • Humility
  • Empathy and Compassion
Collaborating
Social Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Co-Creation Skills
  • Inclusive Mindset And Intercultural Competence
  • Trust
  • Mobilization Skills
Acting
Enabling Change
  • Courage
  • Creativity
  • Optimism
  • Perseverance
Co-created by more that 1000 experts, scientists and practitioners, the IDG Framework consists of 5 dimensions with 23 skills of human inner growth and development.

At the end IDG4FI brings this inner transformation to the world of financial inclusion—supporting changemakers in navigating complexity with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Let’s be real

The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are not about “soft skills” but key transformative skills for the 21st-century financial system.

Relating – Caring for Others and the World
Are we expanding financial access — yet struggling to sense real human needs and potential?
Thinking – Cognitive Skills
Are we focused on dry numbers — or imagining pathways and indicators of deeper, lasting change?
Acting – Enabling Change
As we lead in crisis and complexity — can we preserve the optimism for systemic transformation?
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ThitsaWorks ESG cource
Not Expert Talks – but Community of Practitioners Learning Together
Our approach:

Monthly sessions grounded in real experience, enriching dialogue about urgent issues and visionary perspectives.
A digital hub for ongoing connection, access to practical resources, and shared inspiration.
Pop-up sessions at key FI sector events — because meaningful change is fostered in formal settings over coffee

Titles aren’t required – just a sincere commitment to learning, sharing and reflection with integrity and heart.

Some overarching themes we may explore…

IDG in Governance
Can values-based leadership shape how we govern and perform? We’ll explore integration of the IDGs into (G) in ESG—how to intentionally evolve, scale to all levels and measure leadership for sustainability?
Digitalization, Data & AI
As finance goes frictionless and data-driven, how do we keep empathy, ethics, and adaptability at the core?

What’s the evolving role of RMs in building trust? How do we embed this in data governance? How do LLM-based models affect inclusion?
Leadership & Culture
What does inner development look like in today’s financial institutions? From risk culture to Gen Z, new org. structures, coaching, and sense-making—let’s rethink how we lead.
Crisis Management
Many of us have led through crisis. Together, let’s reflect on how presence, empathy, and systems thinking shaped your leadership under pressure for better outcomes.
Growth & Scale
What does it mean to scale responsibly? Staying close to clients, your team, collaborating across sectors, and focusing on long-term, systemic impact.
Systemic Investing
A shift from “What works?” to “What must change?” Aligning capital and collaboration to transform systems—while staying financially sound.

IDG4FI.net — Get Involved


🌱 Want to host a session?
🌍 Bring your network in?
🛠️ Help shape early content?
This Isn’t a Launch. It’s a Call-In.
Get Involved (open a form)

We’re forming a founding circle of 5–10 practitioners — light commitment, genuine energy, and shared curiosity.
Kick-off in June 2025, with our first public vibe-check at the MFC Conference.