Blog

How Can Regulators Enable Last-Mile Agent Networks?

Extensive and inclusive cash-in/cash-out (CICO) agent networks are key to ensuring DFS access in rural areas. Regulators play an essential role here by enabling DFS providers to innovate agent network models that are sustainable in rural areas.

Cash vs. Digital? Unleashing the Power of DFS through Agent Networks

The rise of DFS has sparked debate on cash's future in developing economies. But, despite increasing adoption of DFS, cash prevails in most global economies, emphasizing agent networks' crucial role as enablers rather than disruptors.

Lessons From 4 Examples on the Leading Edge of Climate-Focused G2P

All G2P programs contribute to climate adaptation to some extent, with examples in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Philippines showing us how specific program design features can support greater climate adaptation for recipients and their households.

Inclusive Voluntary Carbon Markets Could Finance a Just Transition

New CGAP research suggests that voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) hold the potential to finance a green transition across low and middle-income countries.

Guidance for Regulators: Applying Gender-Intentional Approaches

With gender-based exclusion and differences in the financial sector being so pervasive –financial sector regulators and supervisors can apply gender-intentional approaches in order to drive better outcomes for women.

Shaping the Future of Impact Investing in Inclusive Finance

Impact investors have an opportunity to bolster inclusive finance by adopting an outcome-oriented strategy for impact measurement and management. This allocates resources towards investments that offer significant and influential results.

What Have We Learned from Recent PAYGo Off-Grid Solar Analysis?

CGAP and partners recently performed a sectoral analysis of PAYGo off-grid solar firms, with initial insights shared here. The work has greatly contributed to standardization, clarifying the investment opportunity and encouraging further funding.

Success in Open Finance Requires Trust – Lessons from Brazil

Brazil's rapid expansion of open finance shows its potential to transform financial services, and recent CGAP research offers valuable insights into Brazil, as well as other markets interested in implementing open finance.

What Does Financial Inclusion Mean for Young Women’s Well-being?

Well-implemented financial inclusion (FI) initiatives for various sub-segments of young women can produce positive financial and non-financial outcomes. Current research shows plural programs with FI components can benefit marginalized young women.

Climate Adaptive G2P: Beyond Disaster Response

The current focus of G2P programs on emergency response is insufficient to support long-term climate change adaptation. Long-term adaptation must be considered, and designed into programs, to reduce intergenerational vulnerability to climate change.

Regular Savings from Irregular Income: How Platforms Can Help

CGAP partnered with fintechs and platforms across Sub-Saharan Africa to understand how they are using digital rails to offer savings products to low-income gig workers. Here, we share what we found.

Is AI Intelligent Enough to Bolster Business Intelligence?

We discuss how business intelligence can be assisted by artificial intelligence today, and where we believe human input remains irreplaceable.

The Future of Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion is essential to creating more inclusive, resilient, and green futures. But to deliver on its promise, we must go beyond access to financial accounts and focus on maximizing the impact of inclusive finance.

Consumer & Data Protection: A New Approach to Intersecting Risks

Consumer and data protection risks have historically been treated as separate concerns. Instead, all authorities involved with consumer data protection should work together to regulate in a way that ensures the responsible use of consumer data.

Inclusive CBDCs: Inflated Expectations or A New Productivity?

Where will central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) land on the Gartner Hype Cycle? Are they full of inflated expectations, or a new tool for greater financial inclusion? We explore where CBDCs might provide at least incremental gains.

Four Ways to Integrate Gender in Financial Inclusion Investments

How can impact investors integrate gender throughout the investment cycle to improve women’s financial inclusion and contribute to WEE and gender equality? We highlight four emerging practices investors can use.

Stakeholder Landscaping: A Tool for Improved Consumer Engagement

Mapping the stakeholder landscape can be a useful tool to assist market conduct authorities in designing various aspects of a consumer advisory panel, ensuring they make sound strategic decisions about whom to involve and how best to do so.

How Are Climate, Financial Inclusion & Financial Stability Linked?

As financial authorities across the world develop plans to respond to the changing climate, they have opportunities to create a positive feedback loop of expanded financial inclusion and reduced climate risk.

The Road Ahead for Platform Gig Workers’ Financial Inclusion

Gig platforms offer financial inclusion potential for their workers, but roadblocks remain. Learn how funders and the financial inclusion community can better support innovation and impact on gig platforms.

How do Industry Associations Promote Responsible Digital Finance?

CGAP undertook qualitative research on how industry associations can promote responsible digital finance. We identified 10 activities that support customer-centricity, capability, and collaboration – the three building blocks of responsible digital financial services ecosystems.