Barclays have announced a $20m (£11.3m) community investment partnership to tackle financial exclusion in developing countries.

The bank is partnering with CARE International, Plan International and Accenture to help 800,000 poor and vulnerable people access community-based financial services in ten countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The programme will improve access to schemes such as village savings and loans associations (VSLAs). VSLAs are set up and run by small groups of people who want a safe place to save their money and access small loans. This programme will expand existing services and Barclays staff will help to create links to the formal financial system by designing new products and providing training in financial literacy.

Accenture Development Partnerships will provide strategic advice and project management support, while CARE International and Plan International will be responsible for implementing the programme.

Archie Cox, chairman of Barclays Americas, said, “Tackling financial exclusion is one of the most powerful routes to helping people break out of the poverty cycle. By improving access to financial services, this partnership aims to provide people with the financial security needed to build a sustainable future, educate their children and meet basic needs such as health and nutrition.”

Former US President Bill Clinton announced Barclays’ commitment at the fourth annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting.

For more information, visit the Barclays website.