CGAP Publications

Advancing Competition for Financial Inclusion: Six Policy Considerations for Financial Sector Authorities

Sai Krishna Kumaraswamy — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:44:06 EDT

This Focus Note provides practical policy considerations for financial sector authorities to act on competition concerns using their existing mandates and regulatory toolkit. By applying a competition lens, authorities can promote competition in ways that advance financial inclusion while safeguarding stability, integrity, and consumer protection.

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Focus Note - Advancing Competition for Financial Inclusion: Six Policy Considerations for Financial Sector Authorities4.14 MB

Solutions to Protect Consumers from Fraud in Digital Finance

Salvador Chang — Thu, 07 May 2026 13:53:48 EDT

This working paper presents a curated set of solutions for fraud (many of which are AI-powered), with more than 50 examples that have shown varying levels of success in protecting consumers from fraud in digital finance, across education, prevention, detection and disruption, and response and recovery.

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Working Paper - Solutions to Protect Consumers from Fraud2.4 MB

Confronting the Climate and Health Nexus: Lessons from Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)

Anaar Kara — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:21:28 EDT

This case study is the third in CGAP's series on scaling inclusive insurance while preserving consumer value. Aimed at distribution networks — specifically grassroots networks — and insurers, it takes a deep dive into SEWA's innovative heat insurance product, developed with partners and grounded in direct insights into the needs and risks of its members.

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Case Study - Confronting the Climate and Health Nexus: Lessons from Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)827.52 KB

Built to Adapt: Inclusive Financial Institutions in a Changing Climate

Peter Zetterli — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:01:43 EDT

This Focus Note draws on CGAP’s multi-year engagement with dozens of institutions to examine how inclusive financial service providers can adapt their strategy, risk management, and product offerings to remain financially viable, whist also strengthening client resilience, in the face of increasingly frequent and severe climate shocks.

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Focus Note - Built to Adapt: Inclusive Financial Institutions in a Changing Climate1.64 MB

When Cash Can't Wait: Reimagining Payment Distribution in Sudan

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:38:52 EDT

Three years ago, conflict erupted in Sudan, and its toll continues to be devastating. The crisis has caused profound human suffering and dismantled the systems households once relied on to absorb shocks. In this episode, we explore an emerging solution: the Shared Distribution Network (SEND), designed by CGAP and the Cash Consortium of Sudan to cut delays and improve cost-effectiveness.

Scaling Inclusive Insurance through Government Systems: Lessons from the World Food Programme

Anaar Kara — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:53:45 EDT

Drawing on WFP's work in Zambia, Ethiopia, Cuba, and Guatemala, this case study shows how inclusive insurance can build food-secure nations at scale. Key lessons: government integration cuts costs and drives uptake; forecast-based payouts protect smallholder livelihoods faster; and risk reduction is no longer optional — it is a prerequisite for insurability.

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Case Study - Scaling Inclusive Insurance through Government Systems: Lessons from the World Food Programme897.81 KB

Open Finance Oversight and Supervision: Emerging Practices and Early Lessons

Denise Dias — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:46:02 EDT

This working paper brings new insights on the supervision of open finance to inform policy and regulatory design in emerging markets and developing economies.

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Working Paper - Open Finance Oversight and Supervision: Emerging Practices and Early Lessons1.21 MB

Loans to Lifelines: How Lending Innovations Enhances Climate Resilience

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:08:02 EDT

This episode explores two approaches that are flipping the script on how inclusive finance institutions respond to climate shocks. We dive into real-world examples from Malawi and Colombia, where these approaches are helping MFIs stay engaged during crises and unlock faster recovery for climate-affected communities.

Widening the Lens: Mapping the Evolving Landscape of Financial Inclusion Funders

Molly Tolzmann — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:36:34 EDT

CGAP has identified 2,015 "new", largely commercial capital providers extending beyond the traditional pool of funders—creating opportunities to scale solutions while also raising risks as ODA declines. This brief maps the financial inclusion funding landscape and what it means for legacy supporters driving development impact.

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Brief — Widening the Lens: Mapping the Evolving Landscape of Financial Inclusion Funders1.25 MB

How Can Data Help Close Gaps in Women’s Financial Inclusion? Lessons from Rwanda

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:13:18 EDT

Women's financial inclusion is advancing, but gaps remain. The World Bank's Global Findex 2025 reveals that 77% of women globally now hold a financial account, yet in some low- and middle-income countries, women are still up to 30 percentage points less likely to own one than men. So, what's driving this persistent divide, and how do we close it?