The Association of Nigerian Women Business Network has partnered with Unity Bank Plc to reach over 90 women’s groups across Nigeria to unveil the Yanga account in Abuja.

As part of the #FinEquity2024 Annual Meeting blog series, we reflect on key takeaways from the two-day event which explored how financial services can help women build resilience in the face of climate shocks and global volatility. 

Three reasons why the development community should lead the shift away from using language that emphasizes people’s deficits, and model how we can do better.

FinEquity shares details of its collaboration with DSG Hub, to support the digitization of savings groups, a key priority for FinEquity stakeholders, in particular in Africa.

To help measure the impact of digitalization programs, Decodis, in partnership with Fundación Capital and Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, created the Digital Stickiness Index (DSI): a holistic measure that encompasses the different aspects that define the digitalization journey of small businesses. This blog explains how the index works, how it acts as a measure of impact for women-led small businesses and how it can also provide direction to investors, practitioners, and donors seeking to boost women-led small businesses. 

The study explores the representation of women within fintech portfolios and the factors influencing it. It investigates whether fintech firms actively target women customers and the strategies they employ.

As part of the FinEquity Africa 2024 Annual Convening, this side-event moderated by CGAP aimed to unpack the intricate layers of policy surrounding women's financial inclusion. From national strategies to central bank circulars, the panelists explored the multi-layered approach needed to drive gender equality in financial access and empower women entrepreneurs. 

Intentionally embedding a gender lens in private investments can help grow women-led MSMEs. As part of the #FinEquity2024 Annual Meeting blog series, we share insights on how integrating a gender lens can yield both financial returns and social progress—with evidence of success from Women’s World Banking Asset Management and Deetken Impact’s Ilu Empowerment Fund. 

Since 2021, GRID Impact has been working with the Inclusive Financial Systems team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to examine barriers inhibiting women’s access to and usage of financial services. In this blog, Caroline Morrow discusses the importance of looking at barriers for specific women in specific contexts, shares insights into Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and provides reflections from the FinEquity Africa Annual Convening on the way forward. 

Oikocredit, alongside Z3 Partners and with the participation of British International Investment, has led a $39 million equity investment in Altum Credo to bolster affordable housing finance in India.