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India’s List of Financial Inclusion Efforts Grows

Since India's Prime Minister announced in February that accounts opened under his national scheme exceeded targets and 41 payments banks applications were submitted, the list of centrally-driven policy interventions has continued to stack up.

Can Technology Push Microinsurance Further? 4 Reasons to Say Yes

There is great potential to better design and market insurance products for poor customers. A recent study by CGAP suggests that despite progress, four key opportunities across the insurance value chain are underexplored.

Microinsurance: Disrupt, Fail, Repeat?

Many of the most-trumpeted initiatives in the microinsurance industry have failed to survive the past decade. With challenges far outweighing successes, the industry’s soul-searching holds implications for other emerging industries serving the BOP.

Empower the Customer to Choose and Use Financial Services

A new CGAP Brief reflects on the concept of customer empowerment and its role in increasing uptake and use of digital financial services.

Picking Winners in the Great Remittance Disruption

A convergence of forces offers the opportunity to rethink the traditional remittance model, promising more money, time, and peace of mind for customers.

Top 10 Things to Know About M-Shwari

CGAP’s latest Forum publication explores M-Shwari and examines what a critical gap it fills for Kenyan households. We highlight 10 facts about M-Shwari that mobile money watchers should know.

Beyond Numbers: How One Gaza MFI Emerged from the Rubble

With unemployment rates in Gaza reaching the double digits and the UN estimating that more than three-quarters of the population depends on aid to survive, it’s little wonder that the services of microfinance institution, FATEN, are in such high demand.

PMJDY: Improved Financial Inclusion, But Roadblocks Remain

MicroSave has conducted a study on the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), arguably the largest financial inclusion drive in the world.

Sharia-Compliant Microfinance: 5 Takeaways from CGAP's Research

We take a look at five takeaways from CGAP's most recent research on the subject of sharia-compliant products.

Managing Data is Critical to Knowing Your Customer

Innovations that make it easier for financial service providers to “know their customers” are critical for organizations that prioritize low-income client segments.

2015 Set to be Big Year for Digital Financial Inclusion in India

Key regulatory moves in India during 2014 were digital finance game-changers.

Boon for the Base: Crowdfunding for the Base of the Pyramid

Crowdfuding is growing fast. Combined with the continued permeation of internet connectivity - especially via smartphones - and mobile connectivity, crowdfunding holds tremendous potential for entrepreneurs at the base of the pyramid who need access to capital.

Does Information Overload Affect Uptake of Financial Services?

When clients receive too much information about new financial services at once, they may avoid making a decision about it, or make a decision without fully understanding a product.

Consumer Protection at the Crux of Takaful Islamic Insurance

A growing need exists to design insurance products that meet the needs of the world's 2 billion Muslims. Takaful insurance is one possible solution, but consumer protection is a challenge.

Regulating for Inclusive Insurance Markets in Ghana

Tremendous gains have been made in Ghana's microinsurance market in recent years. Here's what the National Insurance Commission of Ghana, along with the German Development Corporation, did to help develop the market - and what challenges lie ahead.

Insurance and Financial Inclusion: IAIS and A2ii

Regulation and supervision of insurance markets are key tools to improve access to finance for poor people.

Merchant Incentives in the Shift to Cashless Food Aid

Shifting social support benefits through electronic payments instead of cash or in-kind contributions offers many benefits, but evidence from existing programs suggests that the link between these payments and financial inclusion is is challenging to make.

Don’t Abandon Youth Financial Services - Innovate

Providing services for small savers is a challenge for financial institutions. With this in mind, Freedom from Hunger is getting a better understanding of the business case behind financial services to youth, who many financial institutions choose not to serve.

How Can Group Loans be Provided more Responsibly?

In order for financial products to help people meet their goals, the products need to fit in with a household's natural cash flows and financial situation.

5 Sources of Untapped Innovation in Digital Finance

Innovators, often in developed markets, are piloting powerful new value propositions for customers building on digital channel attributes. Many of these solutions do not target the poor, but the implications can be easily extrapolated to poor and low-income customers.