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How Providers Can Serve Micro-Merchants Sustainably

This blog discusses why digital merchant payments for micro- and rural merchants in sub-Saharan Africa struggle to be financially sustainable—and what providers, regulators, and development partners can do to fix that.

Bridging Humanitarian and Social Protection Systems in Ukraine

Ukraine’s experience highlights a core challenge: humanitarian and social protection payment systems remain disconnected. Bridging them could reduce duplication, lower costs, and improve how civilians access aid in a protracted crisis.

Why Merchants Still Choose Cash in Sub-Saharan Africa

Digital merchant payments remain limited in Sub-Saharan Africa because current systems impose costs, frictions, and risks that don’t align with the realities of informal, low-margin MSMEs, making cash the more rational choice.

Breaking the Cash Habit: The Urgent Need to Accelerate Digital Merchant Payments

In the latest blog in our Findex series, we look at the importance of accelerating digital merchant payments and what is needed to move Sub-Saharan Africa from potential to momentum.

What the New FATF Travel Rule Means for Financial Inclusion

While new FATF updates aim to combat money laundering, financing of terrorism, and fraud, they also raise important questions about how implementation will affect financial inclusion. We offer analysis on Recommendation 16 (or the 'Travel Rule').

The FATF’s Revised Travel Rule: Key Changes for Payment Transparency

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently adopted a revised travel rule for payments and value transfers – known as Recommendation 16 (R.16). The adoption of the rule raises some important questions – why was this revision required and what is the scope of the changes?

Revised FATF Guidance on Inclusion Finalized

The FATF just adopted a revised version of its guidance on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) and financial inclusion. Several other updates came out of the meeting, with implications for financial inclusion work - CGAP offers an analysis of these updates.

Will FATF’s Travel Rule Revisions Affect Financial Inclusion?

The FATF is consulting on revisions to its travel rule that will affect all payments. However, the changes pose a threat to the speed, cost, and inclusiveness that the international community expects from global remittances. So why the change?

Social Protection + Financial Inclusion = A Path to Climate Resilience

Social protection programs hold immense potential for climate adaptation. Financial inclusion can further these climate goals, but while promising examples exist, they are still emerging—representing a promise waiting to be realized.

Can What Remains of Sudan’s Financial System Be Used to Fight Famine?

December 4 marks 600 days of war in Sudan, one that has caused famine, mass displacement, and lost income. Cash transfers can save lives but need a functioning financial system to work - protecting Sudan’s financial sector now is key.

The Stories Behind Late Repayment on Digital Credit in Côte D’Ivoire

Borrowers in Cote D’Ivoire had higher rates of loan non-repayment than those in Kenya and Tanzania, and CGAP wanted to know why. Qualitative research results shed more light on the users’ experience and the possible causes of the late repayments.

FATF's Proposed Rules for Payments: Balancing Integrity and Inclusion?

As the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) seeks feedback for its revised Recommendation 16, or "travel rule", it is imperative to consider potential impacts on the financial inclusion of low-income customers.

Digitizing G2P Payments: Lessons from Indonesia

Indonesia's digitization transformation for G2P payments showcases what can be achieved when strong government commitment and collaboration are combined with advanced technologies.

How Can Regulators Enable Last-Mile Agent Networks?

Extensive and inclusive cash-in/cash-out (CICO) agent networks are key to ensuring DFS access in rural areas. Regulators play an essential role here by enabling DFS providers to innovate agent network models that are sustainable in rural areas.

Cash vs. Digital? Unleashing the Power of DFS through Agent Networks

The rise of DFS has sparked debate on cash's future in developing economies. But, despite increasing adoption of DFS, cash prevails in most global economies, emphasizing agent networks' crucial role as enablers rather than disruptors.

Lessons From 4 Examples on the Leading Edge of Climate-Focused G2P

All G2P programs contribute to climate adaptation to some extent, with examples in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Philippines showing us how specific program design features can support greater climate adaptation for recipients and their households.

Climate-Focused G2P: Beyond Disaster Response

The current focus of G2P programs on emergency response is insufficient to support long-term climate change adaptation. Long-term adaptation must be considered, and designed into programs, to reduce intergenerational vulnerability to climate change.

Regular Savings from Irregular Income: How Platforms Can Help

CGAP partnered with fintechs and platforms across Sub-Saharan Africa to understand how they are using digital rails to offer savings products to low-income gig workers. Here, we share what we found.

Inclusive CBDCs: Inflated Expectations or A New Productivity?

Where will central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) land on the Gartner Hype Cycle? Are they full of inflated expectations, or a new tool for greater financial inclusion? We explore where CBDCs might provide at least incremental gains.

Doing Good by Doing Well: Women Banking Agents in India

In India's Bihar state, women Bank Sakhi agents help enable financial inclusion for rural, vulnerable, and hard-to-reach customers, more so than the traditional agents - but various gender norms constrain how they operate. We discuss solutions.