Recent Blogs
Blog
Surveys Reveal a Path to Responsible Digital Finance in WAEMU
For the first time, there is comprehensive data on digital financial services users in the WAEMU region, and it highlights the need for more responsible digital finance ecosystems. Strengthening consumer protection is crucial.Blog
Which Kind of Microfinance Institutions Can Serve Women Best?
CGAP and MFR analysis of 300+ MFIs explores the trends, challenges, and successes in closing the gender credit gap for smaller borrowers and identifies optimal designs for supporting more women clients, more equitably, and in more parts of the world.Blog
Financial Inclusion 2.0: Generating New Evidence to Maximize Impact
Despite extensive research, the financial inclusion sector still lacks a clear understanding of what works, when, and for whom. Financial services' impact varies widely, highlighting the need for new research and more nuanced insights.Blog
In a Post-Pandemic World, How Healthy Are MFIs?
CGAP analysis with MFR of MFIs post-COVID suggests that there seems to be a cluster of institutions still experiencing high credit risk, and unfortunately, the smallest institutions seem to be facing the biggest problems.Blog
Good News for Young Women’s Financial Inclusion in East Africa
Young women in East Africa are demanding and using financial services earlier and faster than a decade ago, according to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation analysis of Findex 2021 and 2011 data. The second blog in our series unpacks these findings.Blog
Decoding Financial Inclusion Gaps Between Young Men and Women
A recent CGAP study revealed a gender gap in financial service adoption among youth in low-income countries. Here, we analyze Findex 2021 data to better understand the factors driving these disparities.Blog
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 building blocks of responsible digital financial services ecosystems.Blog
Maximizing the Impact of Financial Inclusion for Young Women
Among which segments of young women could investments in improved financial services make the most impact? We highlight findings from a recent CGAP segmentation exercise.Blog
How are Mobile Money Agents Protecting Customers’ Data in Uganda?
Recent qualitative research in Uganda conducted by CGAP and MicroSave Consulting (MSC) identified good practices for responsible agents in safeguarding their customers’ data and the role that providers can play in promoting these practices.Blog
What Gets Measured, Gets Managed: Findex 2021 Insights for the Future
The 2021 Global Findex data provides a promising trajectory for financial inclusion, but reach is just one defining success factor. Is it time for the financial inclusion industry to revisit how we think about and measure success?Blog
Opening Pandora’s Box: Revisiting the Impact of Small Business Finance
The debate over the impact of small business finance is far from settled. Here are four gaps in the evidence base that should be filled to move the debate forward.Blog
Measuring Women’s Economic Empowerment in Financial Inclusion
Get answers to common questions about how to measure the impact of financial inclusion initiatives on women's economic empowerment.Blog
Finance Fit for Opportunities and Shocks: What Helps Poor Clients Most
To better understand the impact of financial services on people's lives, providers will need to invest in deeper customer research with the help of the broader financial inclusion community.Blog
Measuring the Influence of Financial Services on Reaching the SDGs
Learn about UNCDF Impact Pathways, a tool to measure the influence of digital financial services in reaching the SDGs, in this guest blog.Blog
Financial Inclusion for What?
The global evidence on the impact of financial inclusion consistently shows that poor people use financial services to help them achieve two outcomes that improve their well-being: building resilience and capturing opportunities.Blog
Inclusive Growth vs. Household Finance: A False Choice
What’s better for inclusive economic growth: expanding access to financial services among individuals or businesses? Emerging evidence suggests they’re both critical.Blog
Mapping a Pathway to Improved Well-Being for Young People
What are the links between financial services and young people's educational and job opportunities? Here are three insights.Blog
Looking Beyond the Average Impact of Financial Inclusion
CGAP's review of over 100 financial inclusion impact studies shows only 1 in 5 offers important contextual information to explain results. Greater focus on context is needed to understand impact.Blog
Is Poverty Reduction the Right Outcome for Financial Services?
Today, the global development community generally accepts that poverty is more than just a lack of income. What do multidimensional concepts of poverty mean for those who see poverty reduction as the ultimate goal of financial inclusion?Blog