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Help us accelerate women’s financial inclusion
Earlier this summer the World Bank released its latest Findex report, the triennial barometer for progress in financial inclusion among the world’s most underserved people. On the surface, it was good news. The pandemic and resulting digitization of financial services have driven greater financial inclusion across the board, while the stubborn 9% gender gap between men and women’s access to financial services had shrunk for the first time in decades to 6%.
But a closer look tells a different story
While the global gap between men and women narrowed, many regions, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa, reported 12 and 13 percentage point gender gaps, respectively — twice as large as the developing economy average. In other instances, the gap widened significantly – Bangladesh and Nigeria by 20 percentage points, Pakistan by 15, and Tanzania by 13. At the current rate of progress, it will take more than 100 years to fully close the gender gap.
Read our Findex insights in our recent blog.
Digital finance plays a crucial role in reducing financial exclusion
While the global gap between men and women narrowed, many regions, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa, reported 12 and 13 percentage point gender gaps, respectively — twice as large as the developing economy average. In other instances, the gap widened significantly – Bangladesh and Nigeria by 20 percentage points, Pakistan by 15, and Tanzania by 13. At the current rate of progress, it will take more than 100 years to fully close the gender gap.
Learn more about our advocacy for digital financial inclusion.
1 Billion Women
have limited access to formal financial services.
¾ of those women have no access at all.
In some countries, it will take over 100 years before we see gender equality in access if we don’t intervene.
The time for collective action is now.
Download our Findex Fact Sheet
Our Calls to Action
It truly takes all of us – corporations, nonprofits, foundations and individuals – to make a difference.
Policymakers
Create national financial inclusion strategies, with gender targets.
Collect demand-side and supply-side sex-disaggregated data.
Promote credit infrastructure.
Advocate for gender-diverse regulatory bodies.
Create inclusive workspaces
Financial Services Providers
Develop a “women’s proposition” with dedicated executive leadership.
Focus on women-centered product design.
Mandate, collect and use sex-disaggregated data.
Build strong, gender-diverse teams.
Join our global Network of FSPs
Investors
Adopt a gender lens investing strategy.
Look for gender objectives in investment strategies.
Require gender diversity in investment management teams.
Require statutory reports to include gender diversity performance reporting.
Learn more about our Gender Lens Investing
All of Us
Become conscientious consumers of financial services.
Look for gender diversity in leadership and governance.
Start financial and digital literacy education early.
Adopt a gender lens investing strategy in your personal finances.
Register for Our Next In-person Summit
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