Research & Analysis

Due Diligence Guidelines for the Review of Microcredit Loan Portfolios

These guidelines help analysts evaluate the accuracy of accounting and performance reports about an MFI's portfolio, and the MFI’s compliance with its own portfolio management policies.

Improving Effectiveness from Within: SmartAid for Microfinance Index

The SmartAid for Microfinance Index is an innovative tool that measures one part of the effectiveness equation: funders’ internal management systems.

Window on the Unbanked: Mobile Money in the Philippines

This Brief, a joint effort of CGAP and the GSM Association, discusses the results of the first study on mobile money and the unbanked—those without access to formal financial services—estimated to be almost 4 billion worldwide.

Banking the Poor via G2P Payments

In this Focus Note, we look at government-to-person (G2P) payments, which include social transfers as well as wage and pension payments. With appropriate experimentation, these payments have the potential to become a vehicle for extending financial inclusion and improving the welfare of poor people.

Creating Pathways for the Poorest

This Brief discusses early lessons from the implementation of the graduation model.

Branchless Banking and Consumer Protection in Brazil

As part of its Global Policy Initiative, CGAP partnered with the Central Bank of Brazil in late 2008, to learn more about the issues and trends in consumer relations when financial services are delivered through branchless banking. This report highlights some of our findings.

CGAP Consumer Protection Policy Diagnostic Report: Malaysia

CGAP conducted a pilot policy diagnostic mission in Malaysia in May 2009 to assess the Malaysian consumer protection policy environment for low-income and/or inexperienced customers.

Scenarios for Branchless Banking in 2020

The growing use of branchless banking channels over the coming years is inevitable in most countries. But it’s far less certain whether large numbers of the unbanked poor will use these alternative channels for financial services beyond payments, such as savings and credit.

Financial Access 2009

Financial Access 2009 reports on new data from a survey of financial regulators in 139 countries. It is intended for a broad audience of policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and multilateral and bilateral investors.

MIV Performance and Prospects

CGAP’s 2009 Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs) Survey sheds light on the resilience of microfinance investments.