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

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 since its inception in 1979 at Commission on the Status of Women till today! 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 Blanca Estela Olvera. She is an entrepreneur living in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico, the central hub for commerce and services fo ..read more

An unchartered path always held an allure for her.   While it was unusual for a girl from Kansas City to go to college on the East Coast in the 50’s, she took the risk anyway.   After her freshman year at Manhattanville College in 1952, she jumpstarted her career and secured a job at Merrill Lynch as the Assistant to the Head of the newly created Foreign Department, becoming one of the first few women on Wall Street.   As if that wasn’t enough, she also attended night classes.  A year later, her father fell ill, moving her back to Kansas City. She kept in ste ..read more

This toolkit is designed to empower financial service providers in refining and enhancing their digital credit solutions to better serve low-income women, particularly micro-entrepreneurs. Providers will be equipped with strategies to design and implement initiatives aimed at improving access to credit for women, addressing the unique challenges they face in securing financial support. Our toolkit focuses on narrowing the gender gap in credit access by outlining a Digital Credit Activation Solution. This solution incorporates a user-friendly digital platform accessible via mobile devices, flex ..read more