Banks and MFIs have long bypassed women nano-entrepreneurs as too expensive to serve profitably. But by meeting these women inside their trusted savings groups with digital tools, financial institutions are unlocking viable models to reach segments that traditional lending has missed.

Agents form a crucial human bridge between the cash and digital economies for local communities.

While mobile money usage has skyrocketed in Nigeria, barriers remain around education, identity and digital access. If these obstacles are overcome, mobile money can become a true catalyst for opportunity and resilience.

What did 2025 mean for financial inclusion? We look back at the ideas, debates and developments that shaped the sector over the past year - from a deepened focus on financial health and resilience, to rapid progress in AI experimentation, to growing funding constraints.

Over the past decade, the region has undergone a profound transformation in how people and businesses transact. What types of policies have brought about this dramatic growth of digital payments?

Data from the Global Findex Database 2025 gives us a glimpse into how well countries across the globe are transitioning from cash toward digital payments. How much progress has been made, and what still needs to be done?

While international climate finance commitments have accelerated in recent years, little reaches local communities to support those most affected by the climate crisis. Brazil's instant payment system Pix could help change that.

Advans Ghana shares how it is developing targeted responses for clients affected by floods and fires, with recovery lending and client-centered support.

In Indonesia, women selling goods through social media have become a powerful economic force, but they need more support.

Affordable health finance products boost resilience for urban slum dwellers in India.