ACCESS has been promoted by CARE India as a not-for-profit company for offering specialised technical assistance in the areas of microfinance and livelihood promotion. The initial mission of ACCESS was to incubate and build the capacities of fledgling microfinance institutions in India and meet the demand for financial services from the poor. But it soon became clear that improving the condition of the poor required a more comprehensive approach.

As a consequence, besides expanding its programming strategies within the ambit of microfinance, ACCESS has also developed a strong portfolio under its Livelihoods Programme Unit, transitioning from a narrow microfinance resource agency to a much more diversified field of programming competences. As a consequence, besides expanding its programming strategies within the ambit of microfinance, ACCESS has also developed a strong portfolio under its Livelihoods Programme Unit, transitioning from a narrow microfinance resource agency to a much more diversified field of programming competences