Despite the best efforts of regulators and policymakers in deepening financial inclusion, there still exists a nine percent gender gap in access to financial services in developing and emerging economies. This figure has remained unchanged since 2011, and accounts for more than half of the world’s unbanked population of 1.7 billion. Digital financial services (DFS) have shown remarkable growth in several countries. Given the digitalization drives in most sectors, this case study explores whether the use of DFS in sectors other than financial services can be used to accelerate women’s financial inclusion and reduce gender inequality.
Impact / Outcome
These case studies show there is potential for increasing women’s financial inclusion with these services. However, in general, their take-up and usage by the women they are offered to does not fully meet expectations. This is primarily because most of the services are provided on a gender-neutral, and not gender-sensitive or gender-transformative basis, with most of the case studies and examples driven by the private sector business development initiatives.
Funding sources
Public/Private
Key Metrics
Enhance women's financial inclusion in the health, agriculture and MSMEs sectors through multisectoral DFS initiatives
Operating model
Public-private partnershipYear published
08 October 2021 