ACCESS was started in 2006 as a not-for-profit Section 25 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. While the head office is located in Delhi, ACCESS also runs offices in 6 different states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Rajasthan.