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Unlocking Invisible Barriers to Women’s Inclusion in East Africa

Invisible gender norms shape how everyone in the financial system behaves. CGAP & FSD Network research in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda shows that making finance work for women means understanding those norms and how to intervene to change market actor behavior.

How Has Regulating Digital Lending Enhanced Women’s Credit in Indonesia?

Intentionally embedding gender considerations into Indonesia’s peer-to-peer (P2P) and other fintech regulations and guidance could unlock new finance pathways for women entrepreneurs to access the finance they need to grow and thrive.

Women Bear the Cost of Underutilizing FATF’s Risk-Based Approach

The recently revised FATF Standards create new opportunities to apply proportionate AML/CFT measures that recognize women’s generally lower risk, helping close the gender gap in financial inclusion if policymakers act intentionally.

Four Ways Funders Can Support Climate-Smart Women’s Financial Inclusion

Inclusive finance is a critical, yet underutilized, tool for supporting low-income women’s climate adaptation, and funders can play a key role by helping FSPs overcome key barriers to delivering climate-smart, gender-responsive financial products and services.

Implementing Gender-Smart Strategies: A Guide for Financial Providers

Financial institutions often neglect the specific needs of women, despite evidence showing women are valuable clients. We advocate for a gender-sensitive approach to financial inclusion to address these issues and improve women's economic potential.

Unpacking Effects of Gender Norms on Women's Financial Lives in Uganda

How do gender norms impact not just women’s behavior, but the behavior of all market actors in the financial system? Recent findings from Uganda offer some insights.

What Is “Appropriate” Financial Inclusion for Young Women?

Young women in low-income countries face major life changes in early adulthood. Tailored financial inclusion—through segmented products, accessible delivery, financial literacy, and partnerships—supports their transitions.

Everyone Loves Drama: Changing Financial Norms With Edutainment

Edutainment does more than entertain. It shapes our understanding of the world and sparks change – and even the use of financial services. Compelling characters in engaging stories can increase account ownership, savings, and financial planning.

Tackling Gender Norms in Mozambique's Financial Services

Despite progress, women in Mozambique remain less financially included than men. A GIZ, CGAP, and AMB study reveals deep-rooted gender norms as key barriers, sparking targeted efforts to reshape financial systems for women.

Which Kind of Microfinance Institutions Can Serve Women Best?

CGAP and MFR analysis of 300+ MFIs explores the trends, challenges, and successes in closing the gender credit gap for smaller borrowers and identifies optimal designs for supporting more women clients, more equitably, and in more parts of the world.

Driving Change: Hello Tractor and ABERA

CGAP, IDH, FSD Network & FSD Kenya are working with Hello Tractor as part of ABERA, which empowers rural women in agriculture. We aim to address gender and climate challenges while strengthening Hello Tractor's business and financial service links.

Regulating Finance for Gender Equality: A New Approach

Financial regulators and market facilitators across the African continent have the opportunity to redefine financial sector policymaking, ensuring that gender inclusivity is at the heart of its economic agenda, beginning with these recommendations.