To celebrate Women’s World Banking’s 45th anniversary, we are showcasing the voices of individuals from around the world who have shaped and touched Women’s World Banking journey. These are stories from across Women’s World Banking’s reach from the women we serve and our customers, to allies and women in leadership who have contributed to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion. Meet Gyanwati, a business correspondent (Sakhi) at the Bank of Baroda in India. In 2021, we worked with Bank of Baroda to launch the Jan Dhan Plus Program, connecting women to the advantages of saving and ..read more

Download the Policy Brief In this Policy Brief we explore the challenges faced by women in accessing and utilizing financial products and services in developing economies.   Globally, approximately 750 million women lack access to financial services, highlighting persistent barriers despite advancements in financial inclusion. Women often exhibit lower levels of financial literacy and confidence compared to men, resorting to informal financial management methods. The exclusion of women from the financial system not only impedes inclusive growth but also represents a substantial oppor ..read more

Download the Policy Brief Financial products and services are crucial for empowering women financially, yet rapid innovation and digitalization pose risks, especially for those with low digital financial capability. Women often receive lower quality services or none at all due to societal norms. Vulnerable populations, particularly low-income women and rural communities, face amplified risks in digital markets. Recognizing these challenges, policymakers must address various risks in financial markets, sales processes, and product usage to ensure consumer protection. General market risks includ ..read more

Download Policy Brief In an increasingly digitalized world, policymakers and regulators hold a critical role in advancing digital financial inclusion, particularly for women. Recognizing the pivotal role of financial capability and digital literacy, policymakers are urged to prioritize the development of women’s digital financial capability (DFC) to foster the widespread adoption of digital financial services (DFS). DFC serves as a crucial policy objective, guiding efforts to enhance financial literacy, customer awareness, and accessibility to DFS. Without adequate attention to DFC, the prolif ..read more

Esther Afua Ocloo, a young woman who transformed a mere sixpence into 12 jars of marmalade, marking the genesis of her entrepreneurial journey, eventually emerged as one of Ghana’s foremost business leaders and a staunch advocate for women’s economic participation. As Women’s World Banking’s (WWB) inaugural chairwoman, she etched her name in history. On April 18th, marking what would have been her 105th birthday, we pay homage to her pioneering spirit in microfinance, embodying resilience, determination, and a global impact. Born into modest beginnings in Peki-Dzake, Ghana, in 1919, Esther’s n ..read more

To celebrate Women’s World Banking’s 45th anniversary, we are showcasing the voices of individuals from around the world who have shaped and touched Women’s World Banking journey. These are stories from across Women’s World Banking’s reach from the women we serve and our customers, to allies and women in leadership who have contributed to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion. Meet Dr. Jennifer Riria, the President and CEO of Echo Network and one of Africa’s leading women entrepreneurs. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specia ..read more

To celebrate Women’s World Banking’s (WWB) 45th anniversary, we are showcasing the voices of individuals from around the world who have shaped and touched Women’s World Banking journey. These are stories from across Women’s World Banking’s reach from the women we serve and our customers, to allies and women in leadership who have contributed to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion. Meet Sylvia Chin, Partner at White & Case in New York. Since September 1975 – a mere four months after we were founded – Sylvia has been integral to Women’s World Banking’s operations in New Yor ..read more

The Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion (WDFI) Advocacy Hub team recently met with coalition members and the larger women’s financial inclusion ecosystem in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is home to one of the local coalitions, and two coalition members joined from Indonesia, home to the other local coalition (Dr. Arifah Rahmawati, Secretary of the Economic and Employment Council of the Central Leadership of Aisyiyah, and Dr. Erdiriyo, Deputy Assistant in Charge of Financial Inclusion & Islamic Finance at the Indonesian Coordination Ministry of Economic Affairs). Alongside our partner United Nation ..read more

Women’s financial well-being requires agency, and a gender lens on financial well-being is critical to ensuring it is a relevant outcome for women. Download the Insight Note Financial well-being and related concepts like financial health, financial security, and resilience are gaining prominence as important outcomes of financial services access and use. Getting these interconnected aspects of financial well-being right is critical for adapting financial services to the felt needs and experiences of the most financially vulnerable populations, especially women. There are several existing defin ..read more

By Dr. Sonja Kelly, Global Vice President, Research & Advocacy, Women’s World Banking The early release of the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap 2024 headlines, the World Bank Global Digital Summit, and the preparations for Brazil’s G20 focus on digital identity and data governance converged this past week, with important insights on women’s digital inclusion. The timing of these could not be better, on the heels of International Women’s Day and bringing us into the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) convening this week at the UN. As we celebrate these insights and efforts, we at Women’s World B ..read more