In 2006, ACCESS Development Services was set up with support from DFID (Govt. of UK as a legacy institution to consolidate and build the experiences of a large well run DFID funded microfinance programme - CASHE (Credit and Savings for Household Enterprises). ACCESS was incorporated as a “not for profit” (Section 25) Co. to support the organized growth of the microfinance sector in India. Although the original mandate for ACCESS was to engage at all levels of the financial value chain and catalyze greater flow of financial services to the poor; soon after its incorporation, ACCESS realized and recognized the need to diversify its programme portfolio and accordingly expanded and diversified its programme activities to also foray into developing and devising composite livelihoods promotion strategies and programmes. Both programme strands grew at a fair clip, as ACCESS evolved.

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