News

FEATURED
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA) on Wednesday, 25 September. This marks the end of her role as the Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development after 15 years, and the start of an evolved focus in her advocacy.

UNSGSA Queen Máxima Attends G20 GPFI Forum in Brazil

UNSGSA Queen Máxima is pictured speaking at a G20 GFPI forum on 27 September 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo credit: Banco Central do Brasil H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial… Read more

New UNSGSA Working Group Policy Note a Call to Action to Reach the Last Mile

Cover of the UNSGSA Foundational Building Blocks Working Group policy note. A new policy note examines the key elements, or foundational building blocks, that should be in place to reach the world’s remaining 1.5 billion unbanked. Read more

2024 Annual Report of the UNSGSA Charts 15 Years of Impact

This special fifteenth anniversary edition of the UNSGSA Annual Report showcases the work of UNSGSA Queen Máxima over the past 12 months and charts the milestones and impact of financial inclusion since she was first appointed the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive… Read more

Queen Máxima Appointed UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was appointed today by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA) at UN Headquarters in New York City. This marks the end of her position as the Special… Read more

UNSGSA Queen Máxima to Attend 79th UN General Assembly and Mark 15 Years as Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will be in New York from 22–25 September for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and to attend a special event marking her fifteenth year as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). Read more

Special UNSGSA Event: Inclusive Finance for Development – 15 Years of Impact

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), will host a special 15-year anniversary event during the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, 25 September, from 1:15–2:30 pm EST. Read more

Paolo Galli Appointed as the Interim Director of UNSGSA Office

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is pleased to welcome Mr. Paolo Galli as the Interim Director of the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). Read more

UNSGSA Queen Máxima Ends Financial Inclusion Visit to the Philippines with a Call to Focus on Increasing Financial Health

The successful mission to the Philippines—Queen Máxima’s second visit as the UNSGSA, with the previous in 2015—focused on strengthening the foundational pillars of financial inclusion, including connectivity, cybersecurity, and digitization, alongside enhancing financial health and resilience… Read more

UNSGSA Queen Máxima to Visit to the Philippines to Support Scaling Up Financial Services for Better Financial Health

The UNSGSA's visit will focus on advancing key foundational building blocks for financial inclusion—including connectivity, digital identification, and digital payments—as well as enhancing financial health and resilience against economic and climate-related challenges for Filipinos. Read more

UNSGSA Queen Máxima to Elevate Financial Health at Meetings with Global Standard-Setting Bodies in Basel

UNSGSA Queen Máxima is pictured with Governor of the Bank of France François Villeroy de Galhau, left, and Bank of International Settlements (BIS) General Manager Agustín Carstens, on 11 March 2024, in Basel, Switzerland. Photo: BIS Her Majesty Queen Máxima… Read more

UN Special Advocate Queen Máxima Concludes Colombia Visit Driving Financial Health and Financial Inclusion

UNSGSA Queen Máxima meets a smallholder farmer during a client visit in the Aburrá Valley of Antioquia, near Medellín, during her visit to Colombia on 26 February 2024. Photo: Patrick van Katwijk H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, in her role as the United… Read more

Financial Health and Innovation to be Focus of UN Special Advocate Queen Máxima Visit to Colombia

The UNSGSA’s Colombia visit aims to support efforts to increase financial inclusion and strengthen financial health nationwide, emphasizing traditionally underserved groups like the poor, women, smallholder farmers, small businesses, and the rural. Read more