CONTRIBUTING TO THE FINEQUITY BLOG:

 

Thank you for offering to contribute to the FinEquity Blog. Our carefully curated selection of original content is geared at shaping and furthering the dialogue around women’s financial inclusion globally. Contributions are sourced from a cross-section of experts, practitioners and funders. We are particularly interested in hearing from new voices.

Before you begin writing please send a short pitch (50-300 words) to FinEquity@cgap.org summarizing your topic and its relevance to women’s financial inclusion. We will respond to your pitch within 5 days.

The following points will help you determine if we are the right place for your proposed blog:

  • We are looking for original, forward-looking, thought-provoking subjects. This can be either a new idea or content, or simply a new way of looking at established thoughts and materials. 
  • We are very interested in blogs that spotlight new trends.
  • We also encourage submissions that take forward material or arguments presented in a FinEquity Webinar, #DgroupsDialogue, Blog or other conversation introduced via one of FinEquity’s channels.
  • Content should be relevant to an audience of women’s financial inclusion professionals around the globe.
  • For blogs about an initiative, program or project please be sure to explore in a thoughtful, conversational way some significant, interesting, or surprising aspect of the work in the context of a bigger conversation in women’s financial inclusion.

Content that is not right for the FinEquity Blog:

  • Promotional pieces for your services or publications. (While we don’t include this kind of material in our Blog, we encourage you to share it on Dgroups and/or the FinEquity LinkedIn Group.)
  • Blogs that have already been published elsewhere. (We will occasionally cross-post blogs that are critical to shaping the dialogue around women’s financial inclusion globally.)
  • Material that is so technical in nature that it is beyond the understanding (or interest) of most FinEquity members.

 

WRITING FOR THE FINEQUITY BLOG:

 

Once we have accepted your pitch, please refer to the following guidelines while writing:

Length: 

  • Keep it short. Aim for 600 to 800 words. Occasionally a post will merit longer treatment, but generally, a tight argument that is well thought through is most effective. You can always link to more detailed resources for anyone who wants to dive deeper. The maximum total word limit is 1000 words.  

Style: 

  • Use an informal, chatty style. The best blogs are engaging, conversational, and easy to read, not dry or academic. Let your voice shine through. 
  • Minimize jargon. Your post should be meaningful to a specialist but easy to read for a generalist.
  • Remember, English is not the first language for many of our readers. 
  • If possible, try to pack a punch with your title. A great title grabs readers’ attention while giving them an accurate sense of what they will get out of your post. Questions, statements and lists do well.  
  • Present your ideas as if from one practitioner to another in the spirit of peer-to-peer learning. 
  • Stay focused. Make a single point or core argument and substantiate only with the relevant details. 

Format: 

  • Use strong visuals. Charts and graphics can make a post more engaging and help you make your argument. Just make sure you own the visual, have the owner’s permission to use it, or that it is in the public domain. Make sure to provide us with proper attribution for the photo. 
  • Link to sources. There are no footnotes on blogs. Use hyperlinks and anchor them in evocative text that describes what readers can expect if they open a link. When possible, avoid adding text like, “Click here to learn more” and “Available here.” 

We are happy to support you during the writing process and will provide editing once you are finished with your draft.

 

FOLLOWING PUBLICATION ON THE FINEQUITY BLOG:

 

  • Once your piece has been uploaded to the FinEquity Blog we invite you to share a link on Dgroups and the FinEquity LinkedIn Group.
  • We strongly encourage you to share on your personal and professional social media channels.
  • We suggest you promote your blog on social media with a question related to the content, for example: “check out our latest findings on DFS for women in Sub-Saharan Africa. What experiences are you having in other regions?” 
  • Please note that FinEquity Blogs are occasionally cross-posted on the CGAP Blog

For any further questions please contact: FinEquity@cgap.org