Blog

Does Microcredit Drive Jobs Growth? Here’s What the Evidence Shows

Microcredit can help MSEs create jobs and build resilience but often falls short on growth. The Impact Pathfinder highlights credit’s opportunities and gaps, stressing the need for better financial products and support to boost employment.

FATF’s Revised Inclusion Guidance: Progress Made, Questions Remain

While FATF’s revised AML/CFT Guidance makes strides toward promoting financial inclusion, it still lacks clarity on key issues. The public consultation is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback and shape a more balanced final version.

Beyond the Chat: AI-Powered Advice for Women Farmers

AI-powered chatbots can be transformative for rural women by providing accessible, real-time agricultural advice, improving productivity, and fostering financial independence. Challenges must be addressed to ensure their full impact and inclusivity.

A Clearer View: Using S-GDD for Better Financial Outcomes

Relying on aggregate financial data for insights provides only a general idea of reality – granular supply-side gender-disaggregated data (SGDD) can sharpen the picture, exposing financial behaviors and disparities that would otherwise remain hidden.

FATF’s Financial Inclusion Revisions: What To Do Now?

The consultation window is now open for the FATF’s revisions to its Guidance on AML/CFT and Financial Inclusion. The Guidance has a real impact on the financial inclusion of millions worldwide, but what is it that stakeholders can do?

Sowing the Seeds of Resilience: Can AI Empower Women in Agriculture?

AI is everywhere. But can it boost rural women’s agricultural income? While not a silver bullet, AI can potentially create value for rural women in agriculture. We discuss 4 key areas where there is action and opportunity around AI for women in ag.

Supplying What the Market Won’t: Donors and Young Women’s Inclusion

Young women across Africa are one of the most underserved markets for financial services. Donors can step in by strategically supporting services the market isn't likely to provide but are key to increasing young women's financial inclusion.

Embedding Gender Equality in Ecuador's Financial Inclusion Regulations

Ecuador’s approach to embedding gender equality in financial regulations offers a model for how regulators can drive inclusive financial systems and close gender gaps.

Bridging the Evidence Gap in Women’s Financial Inclusion

Women’s financial inclusion is paramount, but how does it drive real economic empowerment? CGAP's Impact Pathfinder maps what we know—and what we don’t—about credit, savings, digital payments, and insurance for women.

The Time to Consult on FATF Revisions Is Now

The FATF is updating its Guidance on AML/CFT and Financial Inclusion and is seeking input. This revision could impact financial access for millions, making it crucial for experts to engage before the consultation closes on April 4, 2025.

The Evidence of Credit and Insurance’s Role in Tackling Climate Change

Drawing on evidence to examine how financial services can advance climate action and other development outcomes, CGAP's Impact Pathfinder is a gateway to understanding what the existing evidence tells us, and knowledge gaps that need to be filled.

3 Lessons From Côte D’Ivoire on Responsible Digital Finance Ecosystems

CGAP’s WAEMU Lab has been working to improve consumer protection for DFS users in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. A 2022 survey in Côte d’Ivoire revealed significant risks, but a 2024 follow-up showed progress, with 3 key lessons emerging.

3 Opportunities for Funders at the Frontlines of Inclusive Carbon Markets

Based on CGAP’s conversations with funders and carbon project developers, this blog post explores the role of donors, development finance institutions, and impact investors in supporting inclusive carbon project innovation.

Rural Women in Tanzania Build Financial Resilience Through Groups

BRAC Tanzania Finance Ltd. (BTFL) supports rural women with tailored loans, financial guidance, and a "phygital" approach, helping them build resilience and sustainable livelihoods despite the unique challenges they face.

Impact Pathfinder: Leveraging Evidence to Shape Financial Inclusion

CGAP, in partnership with Dalberg, has developed the Impact Pathfinder as part of a new outcome agenda for the financial inclusion community. The Impact Pathfinder makes existing evidence on financial inclusion more accessible and actionable.

Social Protection + Financial Inclusion = A Path to Climate Resilience

Social protection programs hold immense potential for climate adaptation. Financial inclusion can further these climate goals, but while promising examples exist, they are still emerging—representing a promise waiting to be realized.

Outcome Indicators in Financial Inclusion - Are They Up to the Challenge?

Indicators help track progress across populations and evaluate financial service impacts. To justify their high cost, it's crucial to define their capabilities and limitations in addressing geographic and demographic variations.

Inclusive Finance Can Deliver Climate Funding Into the Hands of People Who Need It Most

Climate change disproportionately affects people experiencing poverty, yet they often lack the financial tools needed to adapt. Focus must shift to ensuring that climate funding reaches the individuals and communities most impacted.

Three Principles to Guide Financial Health Measurement

Global financial health measurement varies, reflecting the need for widely applicable guidelines to make sure financial health measurement provides relevant insights. We outline three principles to help refine approaches and improve insights.

Financial Well-being – A Concept That Has Come of Age

The GPFI’s 2024 G20 Policy Note on Financial Well-Being offers a clear framework for linking financial inclusion to meaningful outcomes. It highlights how financial policies, consumer protection, and digital innovation can drive progress, shaping lives far beyond access to services.