Research & Analysis

Voices From the Frontlines of Climate Change

In this episode, we travel to Bangladesh to speak with two farmers who are fighting to protect their homes and livelihoods from storms, flooding, and rising sea levels. We also hear from MicroSave Consulting and CGAP about the potential role financial tools can play in bringing hope, resilience, and lasting change to climate-vulnerable communities.

Empowering Micro-Retailers Through Digitization: Hype or Promise?

Micro-retailers that stock fast-moving consumer goods are universally cherished. And yet, they face numerous unique challenges. B2B e-commerce startups are promising to make a difference for these micro-retailers by digitizing order processes and extending buy-now-pay-later credit options. But challenges remain: How do we bridge the digital divide, and can these systems sustainably scale?

Key Considerations for Open Finance

Open finance frameworks have the potential to increase innovation, boost competition, empower customers, and deepen financial inclusion. However, they also introduce new risks that necessitate careful design and robust safeguards. As more countries explore or implement these frameworks, CGAP, BIS, IMF, UNSGSA, and the World Bank offer key considerations for designing effective and inclusive open finance frameworks.

Trust in Transition: Afghanistan’s Hawala System in Crisis and Recovery

Afghanistan’s hawala system plays a critical and evolving role in the country’s financial ecosystem. Since August 2021 its role has only expanded as trust in the banking system faltered. Although hawala faces local competition and international skepticism due to transparency concerns, it remains a vital financial tool. The paper suggests that stakeholders should deepen engagement with hawala networks, support their regulation and formalization, and explore innovative partnerships to advance financial inclusion.

A Green Future for All: How Financial Services Can Build More Inclusive Carbon Markets

Inclusive carbon markets can play a role in financing a just, green transition. CGAP highlights the challenges to and opportunities for developing inclusive carbon markets, emphasizing the potential for financial services to both overcome barriers to inclusion and drive impact at scale.

Global Partnerships Case Study: Measuring and Managing Financial Inclusion Outcomes

This case study explores how Global Partnerships integrates outcomes data into investment decisions, highlighting key enablers for success, including leadership support, impact-driven strategy, and collaborative partnerships with financial service providers.

Investing for Financial Inclusion: Four Enablers for Outcomes Measurement and Management

Impact investors are adopting outcomes-focused impact measurement and management (IMM) to enhance transparency and mitigate risks. This approach emphasizes tracking development and intermediate outcomes and using this data for decision-making. The paper outlines key enablers to advance outcomes-focused IMM in financial inclusion investments.

The Next Chapter for Women’s Financial Inclusion: Moving Toward a Visible Step-Change

A new approach integrating public and private sector efforts is crucial to address women's financial inclusion (WFI). CGAP’s gender conceptual framework aims to offer a new vision of WFI through a whole-of-market approach, requiring commitment from both sectors to drive impactful change.

Young Women's Financial Inclusion: What Works

This paper summarizes two decades of insights to help practitioners unlock the social and business case for young women’s financial inclusion. It outlines tailored strategies for product design, delivery, financial capability, and social intermediation to meet the needs of this diverse and vital client group.

Inclusive Fintech: How Startups are Bridging the Finance Gap for Microenterprises

This focus note features a range of case studies based on CGAP's research and highlights the potential and actual impacts of microenterprise fintech models.