Workarounds Don’t Work: Gender-Aware Financial Services Must Help Address Discriminatory Norms

What will it take for financial services to catalyze women’s economic empowerment? Making financial services and policy environments less inhibiting to discriminatory norms is a good place to start.

Financial Inclusion Must Address Restrictive Social and Gender Norms

The archetypal story of Grace and Emmanuel helps illustrate these restrictive norms interacting with economic livelihoods at the household level.

10 Things to Know About Nigerian MSMEs’ Experience with COVID-19

We’re by no means out of the woods, according to key takeaways from longitudinal research of microfinance clients in Lagos.

Gender and Digital Worldviews: Divergent User Perspectives On Data Collection and Use

Recent interviews with low and middle-income men and women suggest women see data use violations far differently than men do, and that DFS providers should take this into account.

Digital Lending in Kenya: Willingness vs. Capacity to Repay

Capacity needs to be much more of a factor in high-tech decision-making about who gets a loan. How can this be done?

Inclusive Fintech 50 Launches 2021 Competition: Driving Innovation in an Era of Uncertainty

Winners will have access to support tools, enhanced networks, and will be recognized as trailblazers in inclusive fintech.

Reducing Bias in Algorithmic Decisions Cannot Rely on “Blind” Approaches

Exploring the challenges and tradeoffs of using sensitive attribute data for detecting discrimination in the context of evolving data protection norms and regulations

Help Wanted: A Global Push Toward Algorithmic Fairness

A conversation with Sonja Kelly of Women’s World Banking and Alex Rizzi of CFI on why algorithmic bias is an important and timely topic.

Climate Change is Exacerbating Obstacles to COVID-19 Recovery for MSMEs in Nigeria

MSME owners in Lagos that experienced a climate shock in the past five years are having a harder time recovering from COVID-19 than peers who never experienced a climate shock.

Leveraging Digital Financial Capability to Drive Women’s Financial Inclusion

While digital financial services are not a silver bullet for financial inclusion, financial capability must grow digitally. Here's how to get there.

Discussing Moratoria and Other Pandemic-Era Measures, a Q&A with FINCA Impact Finance

The organization’s chief operating and marketing officers discuss measures taken and lessons learned during the global crisis.

Yes, COVID is the Big Bang of Digital Payments

Social transfer payments were among the triggers of explosive mobile money growth last year. What measures do we need to take to support vulnerable consumers going forward?

How Is Nigeria’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy Going?

Since it was unveiled nine years ago, the strategy has run into hurdles. This post details them and offers recommendations.

Regulatory Headwinds on the Horizon for Chinese Fintechs: Where Do Consumers Fit In?

What Does It Take for a Woman to Become Financially Capable?

A more tailored approach is needed. But how?

Cautious Optimism: MSMEs Are Rebounding From the Impacts of COVID-19

Policymakers and financial service providers (FSPs) nevertheless must act to bolster the recovery and decrease vulnerability.

Behavioral Science for Financial Health in a Digital World: An Interview With Evelyn Stark

The CFI Advisory Council member and MetLife Foundation leader also comments on CFI’s new strategic pillars for financial inclusion.

Care Work During Crisis: Pandemic Unravels Fragile Gains in Gender Equality

The financial services industry, governments, and civil society should collaborate to expand social protection schemes to ensure coverage for women working in the informal sector. This will help reverse the unequal burden of poverty on women.