Invisible Barriers: How Gender Norms Impact Financial Inclusion

Gender norms are constantly evolving, and financial sector actors have a powerful opportunity to actively shape this transformation. By becoming agents of positive change, they can help create inclusive systems that unlock women's potential and drive broader economic growth. This Focus Note offers a practical framework to help development and market actors understand and act on gender norms that restrict women's financial inclusion (WFI) and women's economic empowerment (WEE).

Drawing on diagnostic research in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, the note classifies gender norms by their strength and prevalence across market actors, including FSPs, regulators, and community influencers, revealing four norm types. Based on a desk review of a range of interventions aimed to advancing WFI and WEE the focus note proposes tailored intervention strategies for each norm type.