Blog

The FinDev Gateway Blog features interviews and blog posts from financial inclusion practitioners around the world. In this community space, we share lessons learned, new ideas, and upcoming research from the field.

Fishermen in Vietnam. Photo credit: Vu Thanh, 2017 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

New Global Findex: What You Need to Know

The latest Findex shows global progress on access to financial services, but it also illustrates challenges in reaching marginalized groups and increasing usage.
By Greta Bull
May 2018
Fishermen in Indonesia use fish finder application. Photo credit: Afriadi Hikmal, 2017 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Yes, Microfinance Is Alive, But Does It Still Matter?

According to many in the impact investment industry, microfinance is dead - yesterday's solution at best. Fortunately for people at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP), no one told microfinance that it has died. But where is it going now and what do MFIs need to do to stay relevant?
By Paul Di Leo & Ira Lieberman
May 2018
Woman conducting business on mobile phone, India. Photo credit: Chara Lata Sharma, 2017 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Grappling With India’s National Biometric-Based Payments System

India’s Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) is the world’s first national biometric-based payments system. In the two years since its launch, AePS has revealed both benefits and challenges as it...
By Rahul Ranjan Sinha & Gaurav Chakraverty
May 2018
Smallholder family in Mozambique. Photo credit: Allison Shelley.
Blog

Diving Into Data on Smallholder Families

Until now, reliable data on the financial lives of smallholder families has been scarce. Three new tools from CGAP, Insight2Impact, MIX and One Acre Fund shed light on this massive untapped market for financial services.
By Jamie Anderson
May 2018
Women making bamboo stools, India. Photo credit: Santanu Das, 2017 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Untapped Potential: Behavior Change Approaches To Address Gender Norms

Integrating social and behavior change communication in women’s economic empowerment programming to address social gender norms that affect financial inclusion.
By Nisha Singh
April 2018
Savings group in Burkina Faso. Photo credit: Grameen Foundation
Blog

Being Smart About Mobile Money

A case study with two financial service providers in Burkina Faso explores seven risks involved in bringing savings groups into digital finance.
By Bobbi Gray & Christian Loupeda
April 2018