Speeches

One innovation can unleash a cascade of benefits. This is the holistic promise of inclusive finance, especially digital. Financial inclusion matters because it has the power to transform lives and livelihoods. Yet, it is not an end. Read more

The use of digital financial services is accelerating. In just the last four years, nearly 40% of adults in developing economies opened their first account to receive a wage or government payment. And the benefits ripple from households to entire economies. Read more

Crises are getting worse in today’s world, not going away. WFP’s new cash transfer policy is a long and welcome step towards the day when all crisis-affected people know that even in dire circumstances, financial access continues. They can still put food on the table, secure health care, seek work… Read more

Inclusive DPIs can catalyze digital contracts and e-commerce solutions. And this creates more efficient and competitive markets, and provides new opportunities to people previously left out. Read more

Digital innovation has the power to help build resilience, endure shocks, and bolster financial inclusion. Read more

Eight of the 17 SDGs highlight financial inclusion as a way to help achieve zero poverty, no hunger, good health, gender equality, and economic growth. We know financial inclusion can do this. And we have the data to show it.  Read more

The Special Advocate highlighted the importance of digital public infrastructure and building regulatory tools that can keep up with the fast pace of innovation in digital financial services. Read more

H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), provided a virtual keynote address for the Nigeria International Financial Inclusion Conference on 24 November 2022.---Honorable Minister, Governor Emefiele… Read more

A broad range of financial services – such as savings, insurance, and credit – are needed for individuals, households, and SMEs to fully benefit from the digital economy. We also need continued commitment to put in place a digital financial infrastructure that is inclusive, safe, and equitable. Read more

If designed and implemented with inclusion in mind, central bank digital currencies can offer a powerful tool to help meet some financial inclusion challenges. Read more

Emphasizing how financial inclusion can support financial health – notably to help people to better manage their day-to-day finances, to access to credit, and to plan and meet future goals – will be necessary to achieve true change in the lives of the poor. Moving beyond payments and supporting a… Read more

If designed and implemented with inclusion in mind, CDBC’s could offer many options to expand access to the unbanked, and to serve the vulnerable and the poor. Read more