Year in Review: Top Ten Publications of 2016

The 10th edition of the European Dialogue presents guidelines for integrating outcomes measurement into the operations of inclusive finance investors. The guidelines incorporate case studies from eight social investors, including two e-MFP members Oikocredit and Triple Jump.

Is FinTech the answer for shifting from microfinance to job creation? This paper addresses this question and more:

• Is FinTech the game changer for the traditional bricks and mortar bank model that excludes so many enterprises?
• How can FinTech improve access to MSME finance and lower its cost?
• What technologies look most promising?

This comprehensive guide to the risks associated with implementation of digital financial services (DFS) aims to:

1. Clearly define and describe all types of risks that may be faced by financial service providers using digital financial services.
2. Provide easy-to-use guidelines for conducting risk diagnostics, assessments, developing risk frameworks, and implementing risk management tools.
3. Analyze how different types of financial institutions currently assess risk and implement risk management tools.
4. Identify general lessons learned by financial service providers about DFS risk management that are relevant to other markets and organizations.

This document explores the following three innovative approaches used by Vitas Group and Global Communities to successfully grow the financial inclusion sector in the Middle East over the last 20 years, despite the region’s persistent political and economic instability:

1. The development of community- and people-focused disaster management planning in Iraq.
2. A relentless focus on customer relationships to support business continuity in Palestine.
3. The use of long-term funding with political risk insurance to address capital constraints during times of instability in Lebanon.

This paper discusses the latest evidence on what works in financial inclusion. It further summarizes research on key financial market failures and on products and innovations that address specific mechanisms underlying them.

Using data reported by 780 financial service providers during the 2014-2015 period, MIX conducted a regression analysis that explores the synergies and trade-offs between social, operational and financial performance. Statistically significant findings emerged mainly in five areas, namely - governance, women as a target market, poverty segmentation by target market, social responsibility towards staff, and borrower retention.

These tool guides were developed by Accion to explain key operational and credit risk management tools to mid-to-senior level managers of FSPs who are not directly in charge of risk management but who are responsible to manage the risks within their respective departments and units. The tool guides use clear and practical language to explain what each tool is, why it’s important, and the potential impact on bottom line results.

This working paper shows where and how financial services can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by reviewing the research on the link between financial inclusion and development. It argues that, by moving away from cash and using digital payments to distribute social benefits and wages, governments can reduce costs and leakage, while at the same time advancing financial inclusion.

This study (and its related case studies on Tanzania and Nigeria) looks at the efforts of policymakers and central bankers in different countries who are fine-tuning an enabling environment for the financial inclusion of women. Evidence has shown that policy measures to increase financial inclusion need to be country-specific, based on each country’s gender gap and unique challenges and opportunities. The policies featured in this paper are examples of promising policy solutions to advancing financial inclusion for women.

This synthesis report (and its related four individual country reports - Benin, Pakistan, Peru, Georgia) presents the voices of low-income individuals who shared their opinions, hopes, and struggles, as part of the Smart Campaign's Client Voices Project. This project aimed to test the assumptions behind the client protection principles, asking clients which aspects of their relationship with MFIs were most worrisome.