On 17 March 2026, AFI’s South Asia Regional Financial Inclusion Initiative (SARFII) organized a virtual event focused on Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) Financial Inclusion Index. Developed with input from AFI and support from the Reserve Bank of India, the Index measures financial inclusion levels across three core dimensions: access, usage, and quality of financial services.

The event covered how the index was developed, challenges faced during its implementation, and how Nepal Rastra Bank plans to improve and expand its use going forward. Participants from across the SARFII network, including Bangladesh Bank, the Micro-credit Regulatory Authority (Bangladesh), the State Bank of Pakistan, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and the Maldives Monetary Authority shared experiences and feedback from their own jurisdictions.

“In recent years, we have witnessed a rapid transformation in financial services, driven by digital technology, fintech innovations, and new delivery channels,” explained NRB Acting Director, Shikha Adhikari Regmi. “This provides an opportunity to expand access to financial services, particularly for vulnerable populations such as rural communities, women, MSMEs, and the informal sector.”

The virtual event was the second in SARFII’s ‘Learnovation Lounge’ series.  “The aim is to bring together policymakers from across the region to showcase country-specific implementation of financial inclusion initiatives, share best practices, and strengthen regional cooperation on financial inclusion,” said AFI’s Asia Regional Manager, Nangsi Dema.

Read More: Nepal’s Financial Inclusion Index reveals progress on access, usage and quality