Inclusive finance for development

Queen Máxima has been lobbying for years in the Netherlands and abroad to increase access to financial services, improve consumer protection and enhance financial literacy.

United Nations

In 2009 Queen Máxima was appointed the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). In this capacity, she advises the Secretary-General, and works worldwide to make financial services accessible to all, including low-income groups and the SME sector. At present, it is uncommon for people and small businesses in many countries to open a bank or savings account or take out insurance or loans. The UNSGSA believes that access to financial services is vital for creating and accelerating sustainable economic growth, creating employment and encouraging people's personal and social development.

G20

Queen Máxima has been honorary chair of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) since 2011. In this capacity, she works primarily to strengthen the synergy between the UN and the G20 in the field of universal access to financial services, calling on her many years of experience to promote inclusive finance.

In 2005, prior to her UN and G20 appointments, Queen (then Princess) Máxima participated in the UN Advisors Group to the International Year of Microcredit. From 2006 to 2009 she participated in the UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors. In 2008 the Queen presented the group's recommendations to the UN Secretary-General. The core messages served as a guideline for legislators, oversight agencies, development partners and the private sector. In 2010 the Queen was honorary chair of the G20 SME Work Group on Data.

Diversity and integration

Queen Máxima was a member of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Women's Participation from 2003 to 2005. This Committee supported the thirty largest municipalities in promoting the participation in society of women from ethnic minority groups. It was chaired by former Member of Parliament Paul Rosenmöller.

From 2005 to 2012 she was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chair in Management of Diversity and Integration at the Free University of Amsterdam.

Queen Máxima will continue to devote attention to these themes in the future, not least in the context of her unifying role.