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.

Digitize, Direct, Design (D3): Can These Three Principles Help Close the Gender Gap?

By Alexandra Fiorillo & Liz Kellison
June 2019
Woman with mobile phone. Photo credit: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 2012.

To realize the potential gains of financial inclusion, more intentional efforts are needed to close persistent gender gaps. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has developed three core principles for advancing women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

Train in Bangladesh. Photo by Sohel Parvez Haque, 2017 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Gateway Guide to Digital Transformation of Microfinance Institutions

Should all financial service providers climb on the digital bandwagon to stay relevant? In this Gateway Guide, we share our main take-aways from the latest research and practical lessons across the sector.
By Gayane Manukyan
May 2019
Father and son, Vietnam. Photo by Minh Quoc Le, 2014 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Microfinance in the Digital World: Seven Questions for the Future

Will fintechs take over microfinance? Can traditional microfinance lenders survive? How? Elisabeth Rhyne of the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion answers these and other burning questions.
By Elisabeth Rhyne
May 2019

MOST READ

Father and son, Vietnam. Photo by Minh Quoc Le, 2014 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Microfinance in the Digital World: Seven Questions for the Future

Will fintechs take over microfinance? Can traditional microfinance lenders survive? How? Elisabeth Rhyne of the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion answers these and other burning questions.
By Elisabeth Rhyne
May 2019
Woman at microfinance group meeting in rural Orissa, India. Photo by Souradeep Ghosh, 2016 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Want To Stay in Business? Keep Your Loan Officers Happy

Loan officers are in a critical position to influence clients’ experience with access to credit and their engagement with an MFI. Yet they are often under intense pressure to meet targets, and many do not receive the support they need to do their job well. Here are six steps for improving working conditions for microfinance field staff.
By Nupur Maroti
March 2019
Aluminum cookware factory, Bangladesh. Photo by KM Asad, 2016 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Does Fintech Have Us Spellbound?

How can we identify which fintech companies and products offer impact potential without being enthralled by the latest 'shiny new object'? Four frameworks help us separate potential from hype.
By Camilla Nestor
February 2019
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Woman with mobile phone. Photo credit: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 2012.
Blog

Digitize, Direct, Design (D3): Can These Three Principles Help Close the Gender Gap?

To realize the potential gains of financial inclusion, more intentional efforts are needed to close persistent gender gaps. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has developed three core principles for advancing women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
By Alexandra Fiorillo & Liz Kellison
June 2019
Peter Surek
Interview

Are Soft Skills Still Relevant As Microfinance Moves Into the Digital Age?

Peter Surek, European Microfinance Network (EMN) Board Member, delves into key questions on human resource challenges and disruptive technology ahead of their upcoming conference, which is shaking things up with a new format designed to inspire and bring together participants.
By FinDev Gateway
May 2019
Photo credit: Unsplash
Blog

The Gender Gap is Wide. Which FinTechs Are Working to Narrow It?

A new Female-Focused Fintech Prize aims to connect and bring attention to fintech products working for women.
By Alina Kaiser
May 2019
Father and son, Vietnam. Photo by Minh Quoc Le, 2014 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Microfinance in the Digital World: Seven Questions for the Future

Will fintechs take over microfinance? Can traditional microfinance lenders survive? How? Elisabeth Rhyne of the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion answers these and other burning questions.
By Elisabeth Rhyne
May 2019
Train in Bangladesh. Photo by Sohel Parvez Haque, 2017 CGAP Photo Contest.
Blog

Gateway Guide to Digital Transformation of Microfinance Institutions

Should all financial service providers climb on the digital bandwagon to stay relevant? In this Gateway Guide, we share our main take-aways from the latest research and practical lessons across the sector.
By Gayane Manukyan
May 2019
Repayment in Kasosi, Kenya. Photo by Hailey Tucker, One Acre Fund.
Blog

Why Smallholder Finance Isn’t Getting the Investment It Needs

By overlooking investment opportunities in smallholder finance in favor of serving less risky client segments that are easier to reach, investors are missing out on one of the greatest impact opportunities in financial inclusion today. What can financial service providers and investors do about it?
By Mike Warmington & Peter Harlock
April 2019