Driving Women's Financial Inclusion at All Levels
Explore the latest global and regional insights from Women’s World Banking’s work in policy, leadership, women’s entrepreneurship, gender lens investing, and more.
Latest Posts
The MFWW Podcast Ep. 32: Instant Money, Real Barriers: Can Tokenized Payments Deliver for Low-Income Women?
Tokenized payments promise instant settlement, near-zero transaction costs, and fewer intermediaries—but can they actually work for low-income women and women-led MSMEs operating on thin margins and informal cash flows? In this episode, we’re joined by Elisabeth Carpenter, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer at Circle, to unpack the real potential—and real constraints—of stablecoins and tokenized cash. We explore whether
Have we truly reached the last mile in access to finance?
The world has seen significant progress in financial access, with 79% of adults having access to an account at a bank or similar financial institution. The 2025 Global Findex attributes much of this progress to increased access to mobile technology, including mobile phone ownership and internet use, with 86% of adults globally now owning a mobile
Is it too expensive to serve low-income, women customers? Debunking product design myths
It is a common sentiment amongst financial institutions that goes something like: “We’d love to serve low-income women, but it’s just too costly.” This assumption that catering to women customers inherently undermines profitability has lingered for years. But is it really true? We explored this in our research and found that nearly two-thirds of financial
Restoring Trust in Digital Finance: 3 Ways to Tackle Consumer Protection Barriers
The World Bank’s Global Findex report states that roughly half of unbanked adults globally cite lack of trust as a reason for not having an account. Financial institutions are well aware that trust is a problem, yet two-thirds of surveyed providers have no clear trust-building strategy to address it. In this post, we
The MFWW Podcast Ep. 31: Something to Buzz About: When Inclusion Becomes Economic Opportunity
Financial inclusion is a starting point—but it’s not the finish line. In this episode of Making Finance Work for Women, we speak with Monika Shukla, Co-Founder & CEO of Humble Bee, on how inclusive business models can unlock economic opportunity for women at the margins. Monika unpacks how she is transforming India’s beekeeping sector by
Inclusive Innovation: When Technology Expands Markets—and Opportunity
Innovation is transforming financial services—but inclusion doesn’t happen by default. As AI, blockchain, and digital platforms reshape how financial products are built and delivered, the critical question is whether these advances expand opportunity—or reinforce existing gaps. Despite rapid technological progress, 1.3 billion people—700 million women and 600 million men—are still excluded from the formal
The MFWW Podcast Ep. 30: A Year-End Special: Our Biggest Reveal, Boldest Lessons, and a 2026 Sneak Peek
Episode 30 is a celebration. Women’s World Banking just crossed our most audacious milestone yet! Take a step back with us to reflect on the stories, ideas, and breakthroughs that shaped our past episodes. Through curated moments from leaders across the globe, we revisit the lessons that have pushed the sector forward—from reshaping consumer
The MFWW Podcast Ep. 29: The Hidden Cost of Violence — How Finance Can Protect Women
The price of violence is economic. The solution can be, too. Behind many closed doors, violence is an everyday reality—especially for women in low-income countries. For millions, safety, autonomy, and economic participation are undermined long before they ever reach a bank branch or mobile wallet screen. In this Vault Release,
Resilience in Their Hands: Rural Women and Climate Adaptation in Morocco
When a drought hit Amina’s small village in Morocco for the third consecutive year, the 33-year-old camel breeder did not wait for help. “We changed everything: feeding times, markets, even how we save,” she recalls. “The heat doesn’t stop us. We just learn faster” Amina’s determination captures the spirit of
The MFWW Podcast Ep. 28: As Aid Fades, Can Private Capital Carry the Climate Fight?
As aid retreats and climate impacts increase, can investors step in where governments can’t? The battleground for influence just may be shifting from parliaments to portfolios. In this conversation with the Manager Partner of Women’s World Banking Asset Management Emerging Market Funds, we explore how gender-lens investing is being defined as both a moral and market imperative — and what it really takes to turn
