Research & Analysis

Confronting the Climate and Health Nexus: Lessons from Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)

This case study is the third in CGAP's series on scaling inclusive insurance while preserving consumer value. Aimed at distribution networks — specifically grassroots networks — and insurers, it takes a deep dive into SEWA's innovative heat insurance product, developed with partners and grounded in direct insights into the needs and risks of its members.

Built to Adapt: Inclusive Financial Institutions in a Changing Climate

This Focus Note draws on CGAP’s multi-year engagement with dozens of institutions to examine how inclusive financial service providers can adapt their strategy, risk management, and product offerings to remain financially viable, whist also strengthening client resilience, in the face of increasingly frequent and severe climate shocks.

Widening the Lens: Mapping the Evolving Landscape of Financial Inclusion Funders

CGAP has identified 2,015 "new", largely commercial capital providers extending beyond the traditional pool of funders—creating opportunities to scale solutions while also raising risks as ODA declines. This brief maps the financial inclusion funding landscape and what it means for legacy supporters driving development impact.

Scaling Inclusive Insurance through Government Systems: Lessons from the World Food Programme

Drawing on WFP's work in Zambia, Ethiopia, Cuba, and Guatemala, this case study shows how inclusive insurance can build food-secure nations at scale. Key lessons: government integration cuts costs and drives uptake; forecast-based payouts protect smallholder livelihoods faster; and risk reduction is no longer optional — it is a prerequisite for insurability.

When Cash Can't Wait: Reimagining Payment Distribution in Sudan

Three years ago, conflict erupted in Sudan, and its toll continues to be devastating. The crisis has caused profound human suffering and dismantled the systems households once relied on to absorb shocks. In this episode, we explore an emerging solution: the Shared Distribution Network (SEND), designed by CGAP and the Cash Consortium of Sudan to cut delays and improve cost-effectiveness.

Open Finance Oversight and Supervision: Emerging Practices and Early Lessons

This working paper brings new insights on the supervision of open finance to inform policy and regulatory design in emerging markets and developing economies.

Loans to Lifelines: How Lending Innovations Enhances Climate Resilience

This episode explores two approaches that are flipping the script on how inclusive finance institutions respond to climate shocks. We dive into real-world examples from Malawi and Colombia, where these approaches are helping MFIs stay engaged during crises and unlock faster recovery for climate-affected communities.

How Can Data Help Close Gaps in Women’s Financial Inclusion? Lessons from Rwanda

Women's financial inclusion is advancing, but gaps remain. The World Bank's Global Findex 2025 reveals that 77% of women globally now hold a financial account, yet in some low- and middle-income countries, women are still up to 30 percentage points less likely to own one than men. So, what's driving this persistent divide, and how do we close it?

Leveraging Social Protection Networks for Inclusive Insurance: Lessons from Fiji

This case study draws on UNCDF's experience in Fiji to explore the effectiveness of social protection networks as a distribution channel and the role of subsidies. It reveals three conditions are needed for success: strong policy backing, long-standing UNCDF engagement, and existing social protection networks.

Nano by Necessity: Unlocking Growth for Women Entrepreneurs in Uganda and Beyond

Uganda’s 1.1 million nano and micro enterprises are the economy’s backbone, and Women lead 55% of them. Yet CGAP’s latest research shows too many remain “nano by necessity,” held back by scarce collateral and gaps in digital and financial literacy that limit scale and resilience. What will it take to change that?