Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Financial Inclusion

The SDGs comprise an ambitious 17 goals. While the SDGs do not explicitly target financial inclusion, greater access to financial services is a key enabler for many of them. By reviewing the research on the link between financial inclusion and development, this working paper shows where and how financial services can help achieve the SDGs. It concludes by outlining opportunities for businesses and governments to expand financial inclusion in emerging countries by digitizing cash payments of wages and transfers.