Photo credit: Gnim Zabdiel Mignake, 2018 CGAP photo contest

Greetings!


Changing how financial institutions serve women requires more than isolated efforts; it depends on strengthening institutional practices and working collectively to overcome persistent barriers. This edition highlights CGAP’s recent work in Mexico and Morocco, alongside new insights on women entrepreneurs, young women’s financial inclusion, financial health, digital risks, and gender‑responsive approaches.


We are also pleased to partner with e‑MFP for Inclusive Finance 2026 (IF26), where FinEquity will contribute to the portion of the agenda focused on gender and help bring together practitioners and experts to explore priorities and emerging approaches for advancing women’s financial inclusion.


Looking ahead, December 9 marks Day 3 of the FinEquity Annual Convening. Originally planned as a regional FinEquity Africa convening in Nairobi, the event will now bring together colleagues from across Africa virtually to explore persistent barriers to women’s financial inclusion, with a particular focus on young women and opportunities to work together to address these challenges.


From FinEquity ALC, we share the recording and materials of our recent webinar‑workshop on the silver economy, exploring how a gender lens can help financial institutions better serve women aged 50 and above.


We hope this edition offers ideas, evidence, and connections that support your work and contribute to progress across the field.


The FinEquity Team



SAVE THE DATE: #FinEquityAfrica2026

Tackling Persistent Barriers to Women’s Financial Inclusion

Join the FinEquity community for Day 3 of the Annual FinEquity Convening, taking place virtually on December 9. Originally planned as a regional FinEquity Africa convening in Nairobi, this session will now bring together the full Africa community to explore persistent barriers to women’s financial inclusion in the region, with a particular focus on young women, and discuss opportunities for collective action to advance more inclusive financial systems.

9 December, 2026 
Online |
8:00 am to 10:30 am ET

 

Photo Credit: FINCA International - Allison Wright

 
 

BLOGS AND STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY

Photo credit: Carlos Montano, 2016 CGAP photo contest


Changing Financial Institutions for Women Through Collective Action

Alice Nègre, Gabriela Zapata Alvarez, Gayatri Murthy, CGAP | Aug 2026


What does it actually take for financial institutions to serve women better? CGAP's work in Mexico & Morocco shows it takes institution-level change, but collective action across institutions can accelerate it.



Read more >

Are You Being Served? Paths to Increasing Meaningful Financial Inclusion for Young Women

Drawing on research from Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania, this article examines the different financial inclusion pathways of young women and explores how targeted support can address the barriers they face at different stages.

Rani Deshpande, Independent Consultant, e-MFP guest post | Sep 2026

The Hidden Cost of Digitization for Women Entrepreneurs: Recent Research Reveals Gender Differences in the Impacts of Fraud — And Highlights Some Solutions

Financial fraud can undermine the benefits of digitalization for women entrepreneurs. Drawing on research from CARE and Innovations for Poverty Action, this article examines gender differences in exposure to and impacts of digital fraud and highlights approaches to strengthen women’s resilience and protection.

Tanvi Jaluka, CARE and Lauren Perlik, Innovations for Poverty Action, Next Billion guest post | Aug 2026

Women’s Financial Health: A New Opportunity for Policymakers and Financial Institutions

Financial inclusion has expanded women’s access to financial services, but access alone does not guarantee financial health. A financial health lens considers whether women can manage daily expenses, cope with shocks, plan for the future, and feel confident about their financial lives.

Peter McConaghy, UNSGSA, Victoria Johnson and Francesca Brown, Women’s World Banking | Jul 2026

Access to Finance Alone Is Not Enough: Women Entrepreneurs Need a Level Playing Field

Drawing on the experience of a Ugandan woman entrepreneur, this article examines the barriers women-led businesses face in accessing finance and highlights how policy, data, and lending practices can create a more enabling environment for women entrepreneurs.

UNCDF | Jul 2026

Why Investing in Women-Owned SMEs Is Smart Business

Women-owned SMEs remain underserved despite their significant economic potential. This IFC story examines the business case for investing in women entrepreneurs and the role of financial institutions in closing the financing gap.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) | Jul 2026

FROM FINEQUITY ALC

Webinar-Workshop: Designing Financial Solutions for the Silver Economy in LAC

Event recording


FinEquityALC brought a gender lens to the growing conversation around the silver economy in the region. Through this webinar-workshop, FinEquity and Portal FinDev, together with regional partners, explored how financial institutions can better respond to the needs of women and men in this growing market.


Access the recording and materials to revisit the insights, experiences, and solutions shared.

 
 

WHAT WE ARE READING AND LISTENING TO

Photo credit: CARE


Building Financial Resilience Against Digital Risk

CARE, Jul 2026


Drawing on survey findings from Pakistan, Vietnam, and Peru, this learning brief examines how women micro and small business owners experience and respond to digital financial risks and fraud, and highlights opportunities to strengthen their financial resilience.

Gender Intentional Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation Toolkit
This toolkit offers practical guidance and tools to help practitioners, funders, and partners design and evaluate financial inclusion programs that respond to gender dynamics and social norms. It can be applied across areas including policy, payment systems, and financial services usage.

GRID Impact, Gates Foundation | Sep 2026

Global Gender Gap Report 2026

Explore the latest Global Gender Gap Report, which examines progress toward gender parity across economic participation, education, health, and political empowerment, with new data and analysis by region and income level.

World Economic Forum | Sep 2026

Access to Finance for Women MSMEs in The Gambia

This case study explores how The Gambia is strengthening financial inclusion for women-owned and women-led MSMEs through gender-responsive policies, regulatory reforms and a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) | Aug 2026

PODCAST
Welcome to Indonesia: What Women Are Teaching Us About Climate Adaptation


Listen to this episode to hear from Roikhanatun Nafi’ah, founder and CEO of Crustea Indonesia, about how climate disruptions affect women entrepreneurs, their livelihoods, and financial decisions, and what her experience reveals about building climate resilience.

Women's World Banking | Aug 2026

 
 

NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY

Inclusive Finance 2026 (IF26)

Explore the gender-focused programming at Inclusive Finance 2026, where FinEquity will partner with e-MFP, bringing together practitioners and experts to discuss priorities and emerging approaches for advancing women’s financial inclusion.

e-MFP

Upcoming event | 11 - 13 Nov 2026

Financial Inclusion Week 2026

Explore sessions on women’s financial inclusion at Financial Inclusion Week 2026, alongside discussions on climate, technology-led innovation, financial well-being, financial education, savings, insurance, and more. 
Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion

Upcoming event | 05 - 08 Oct 2026

Call for Papers: Research on Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Economies

AIR’s Gender-Disaggregated Data (GDD) for Inclusive Regulation Program supports financial sector regulators to strengthen how gender-disaggregated data is collected, analyzed, and applied in supervision and policymaking.

Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)

Call for papers | Submission deadline: 11 Oct 2026

African Development Bank’s AFAWA and Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative Convene Partners to Advance Financing for Women Entrepreneurs

The African Development Bank Group’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa hosted a four-day learning event focused on practical ways to improve women entrepreneurs’ access to finance and other economic opportunities across Africa. Read more on the partnership.

African Development Bank Group

News | 29 Sep 2026

UNDP and UN Women Launch Financing Initiative to Support Afghan Women Entrepreneurs

The new joint initiative by UNDP and UN Women will expand access to finance for Afghan women entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their businesses.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

News | 29 Sep 2026

 

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