In 2011 the World Bank—with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—launched the Global Findex database, the world's most comprehensive data set on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. Drawing on survey data collected in collaboration with Gallup, Inc., the Global Findex database covers more than 140 economies around the world. The initial survey round was followed by a second one in 2014 and by a third in 2017. Compiled using nationally representative surveys of more than 150,000 adults age 15 and above in over 140 economies, The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution includes updated indicators on access to and use of formal and informal financial services. It has additional data on the use of financial technology (or fintech), including the use of mobile phones and the Internet to conduct financial transactions. The data reveal opportunities to expand access to financial services among people who do not have an account—the unbanked—as well as to promote greater use of digital financial services among those who do have an account. The Global Findex database has become a mainstay of global efforts to promote financial inclusion. In addition to being widely cited by scholars and development practitioners, Global Findex data are used to track progress toward the World Bank goal of Universal Financial Access by 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The database, the full text of the report, and the underlying country-level data for all figures—along with the questionnaire, the survey methodology, and other relevant materials—are available at www.worldbank.org/globalfindex.

Women perform 66% of the world's work, produce 50% of the food, but earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the property. To shed light on why this grim statistic still holds true, Women, Business and the Law aims to examine legal differentiations on the basis of gender in 143 of the world's economies. Women, Business and the Law tracks governments' actions to expand economic opportunities for women across six key areas: accessing institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit and going to court. The report uncovers legal differentiations for women and married versus unmarried women such as being able to register a business, open a bank account and work at night. These issues are of fundamental importance. When, because of tradition, social taboos or simple prejudice, half of the world's population is prevented from making its contribution to the life of a nation, the economy will suffer. The empirical evidence does suggest that, slowly but surely, governments are making progress in expanding opportunities for women. It is our hope that data presented in Women, Business and the Law will both facilitate research on linkages between legal differentiation and outcomes for women, and promote better informed policy choices on what governments can do to expand opportunities for women.

Technology is changing the landscape of the financial sector, increasing access to financial services in profound ways. These changes have been in motion for several years, affecting nearly all countries in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has created new opportunities for digital financial services to accelerate and enhance financial inclusion, amid social distancing and containment measures. At the same time, the risks emerging prior to COVID-19, as digital financial services developed, are becoming even more relevant.

Financial inclusion refers to the availability and accessibility of financial services and products to individuals and businesses at affordable costs. Unfortunately, women have historically faced significant challenges when it comes to accessing financial services, including limited access to credit, savings accounts, and insurance. One solution that has emerged to address this issue is the use of business correspondents. Business correspondents are individuals or organizations that work as intermediaries between financial institutions and customers in underserved areas. They can help bridge the gap between financial institutions and women who may not have easy access to traditional banking services. By working with business correspondents, financial institutions can expand their reach and provide financial products and services to more women. Business correspondents can help women open bank accounts, access credit, and obtain insurance, all of which can be crucial for starting or growing a business. However, advancing financial inclusion for women with business correspondents requires more than just providing access to financial products and services. It also involves providing education and resources to help women understand how to use these services effectively. Financial literacy programs can help women understand the benefits and risks of different financial products and how to manage their finances effectively. Overall, advancing financial inclusion for women with business correspondents is an important step in promoting gender equality and economic empowerment. By providing access to financial services and education, women can better manage their finances, start and grow businesses, and improve their overall quality of life.

The African Women's Development Fund's (AWDF) Women's Economic Empowerment Policy Brief is an outcomes document of our economic empowerment and livelihoods convening in Cape Town in 2013, where participants raised critical issues and contributions around the theme, and how they affect women's economic participation, empowerment and livelihoods in Africa. This document also serves as an important reference point for a deeper understanding of the AWDF thematic area and the work our organisation does in promoting African women's economic and livelihood development.

FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.