Many citizens around the world are currently unable to borrow against their assets to finance their own economic growth or improve their quality of life due to market failures and legal frameworks that may not recognize these assets as being legitimate. In addition, they are unable to formally save for their own health care, child care, life events and disasters. Without this basic opportunity, they may be trapped in an endless cycle of poverty.

Since 1980, Ashoka has launched over 60 social entrepreneurs working to enable low-income citizens to leverage their tangible and intangible wealth to access new opportunities for them and their families. This cluster of Ashoka Fellows is developing a diverse array of innovative, practical solutions in the areas of micro-finance and housing among others. The Wealth of the Poor™ program that is still in a concept stage aims to distill and disseminate the insights of these social entrepreneurs. The project's anchor products are principles that articulate key features of the work of Ashoka's Fellows to create more imaginative property rights that recognize liquid wealth. It is an integral part of our overall vision of "full economic citizenship".

Click here to learn about the innovations of some Ashoka Fellows working to enable low-income citizens to leverage and increase their wealth.