Photo credit: Arne Hoel World Bank

Greetings!

As 2025 comes to a close, we are excited to share the results of FinEquity’s Independent Evaluation, conducted by Blaine Stephens between April and June 2025. This evaluation, commissioned by CGAP, funded by the Gates Foundation, and guided by the FinEquity and FinDev teams, provides valuable insights into how the community is working together to empower women through financial inclusion around the world.

The findings highlight the critical role of FinEquity in keeping gender on the agenda, creating a trusted, inclusive space where diverse stakeholders can connect, learn, and collaborate. Two-thirds of those interviewed and surveyed valued FinEquity for learning and knowledge exchange, while 40% found direct impacts on their work in designing strategies and solutions and identifying partners.

We want to thank our vibrant community for making this impact possible. Together, we continue to foster collaboration, share learning, and advance women’s economic empowerment globally.

As we look forward to 2026, we wish you a joyful end of the year and a happy, successful new year ahead!

Let’s keep turning insights into action in 2026!

The FinEquity Team

FINEQUITY EVALUATION REPORT

READ THE REPORT

BLOGS FROM THE COMMUNITY

Photo credit: Konoplytska, iStock

FinDev Financial Inclusion Year in Review

FinDev Gateway | Dec 2025

While progress toward closing the gender gap in financial inclusion has advanced globally, it remains uneven and fragile, particularly for women in low- and middle-income countries. In this context, FinEquity has played a critical role in keeping women’s financial inclusion on the agenda, even as the financial inclusion sector faced reduced funding and shifting donor priorities.

Read more in this FinDev Year in Review to also learn about global trends in the financial inclusion sector.

More Women Have Financial Accounts, Yet Equal A ccess and Use Remain Works in Progress

The Global Findex 2025 shows that women’s account ownership in low- and middle-income economies has reached 73%—a major gain since 2021. Yet 700 million women remain unbanked. Closing the gap requires tackling barriers and expanding access to digital financial services.

World Bank | Nov 2025

How Morocco’s New WFI Coalition Redefines Business-as-Usual

Morocco’s Women’s Financial Inclusion Coalition is a bold, coordinated effort to close the country’s gender gap in finance by aligning public and private actors, linking policy to practice, and driving systemic, lasting change for women.

CGAP | Oct 2025

FROM FINEQUITY AFRICA

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

JANET KUTELI

CEO

Fortune Credit Limited / Kenya

In this FinEquity interview, conducted during ADA’s SAM (African Inclusive Finance Week) 2025 in Nairobi, Janet shares insights on the challenges facing financial services in Kenya, where current approaches fall short for women, and highlights the value of the FinEquity community for small players in the sector.

WHAT WE ARE READING & LISTENING TO

Photo credit: UN Women

Scaling up Innovative Finance for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

UN Women | Oct 2025

This publication highlights UN Women’s pioneering work in advancing innovative finance solutions to close the gender financing gap and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finance, Climate and Gender: Empowering Women Agents of Change

This report highlights how women’s financial exclusion and climate vulnerability are deeply interconnected, and showcases solutions, rooted in women-centered financial services, that strengthen women’s resilience to climate shocks.

Women's World Banking | Nov 2025

Building Rural Women’s Climate Resilience: Seven Business Drivers Delivering Commercial Value

As climate pressures rise, strengthening rural women’s resilience is critical for their livelihoods and for the long-term viability of the rural businesses that serve them. This paper identifies seven practical business drivers that simultaneously strengthen rural women’s climate resilience and business performance.

CGAP | Nov 2025

Exploring the Nature and Prevalence of Financial Abuse Among Microfinance Customers in Benin

Cerise+SPTF and Grameen Foundation collaborated on research to test a survey instrument designed to measure the nature and prevalence of financial abuse.

Cerise+SPTF, Grameen Foundation | Nov 2025

The Hidden Cost of Violence — How Finance Can Protect Women

Podcast
The price of violence is economic. The solution can be, too. Behind many closed doors, violence is an everyday reality—especially for women in low-income countries.

Women's World Banking | Nov 2025

Pathways to Financial Inclusion for Young Women: Opportunities for Financial Service Providers and Funders

Focus Note
Based on research in Ghana and Tanzania, this document presents key opportunities for FSPs and funders to meet the real financial needs of young women aged 15-24.

CGAP | Dec 2025

EXPLORE ALL RESOURCES

FROM FINEQUITY ALC

The FinEquityALC community was very active this year!

We invite you to revisit the key moments that shaped 2025: from the 3rd Annual FinEquityALC Meeting online and in Honduras, to our participation in Redcamif’s Annual Conference in Costa Rica, ProMujer’s GLI Latam Forum and ECLAC’s Regional Conference in México with UN Women, and the IDB Group’s FinnLAC Forum in Miami; where we moderated panels, facilitated workshops, designed agendas, and shared learnings with the community.

NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY

AFI and Partners Explore How to Advance Women’s Leadership and Gender-Inclusive Finance at Luxembourg Event

On 24 November, policy makers, private sector and development partners from around the world committed to work together to expand women’s access to finance and economic participation, and to support women leaders at a high-level event in Luxembourg.

Alliance for Financial Inclusion

News | 15 Dec 2025

REGMIFA Achieves 2X Certification, Strengthening Its Commitment to Gender-Smart Investing

Symbiotics is pleased to announce that the Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA) has been awarded the 2X Certification, a globally recognized benchmark for gender-smart investing.

Symbiotics SA

News | 01 Dec 2025