Around the world, women continue to face significant barriers in accessing and using financial services. While the gender gap in access to financial services narrowed from 9% in 2011 to 6% in 2021, it remains significantly wider in many regions, leaving 745 million women financially excluded.
Investing in women’s financial inclusion makes sense. Increasing their economic participation speeds up development, helps overcome poverty, improves children’s health and nutrition, and boosts child education. Women own up to one third of small businesses in developing countries, and can be important drivers of economic growth and job creation.
Much work remains to be done to address structural inequalities that prevent women from accessing finance, and from achieving their full potential. These include legal, regulatory, societal, and cultural barriers that prevent women from registering businesses, owning land or property, or opening bank accounts.
Increasing women’s financial inclusion, and narrowing the gender gap through gender responsive financial policy and regulation, has been at the forefront of AFI’s policy discourse since members adopted the Denarau Action Plan (DAP) in 2016, committing themselves to addressing barriers, advancing gender inclusive finance, and promoting female leadership.
Through peer learning, knowledge products, and capacity-building initiatives, the AFI network has significantly expanded our understanding of how to develop and implement effective gender inclusive policy.
At the 2024 Global Policy Forum, AFI revealed its Gender Inclusive Finance Policy Model. For the first time, policymakers now have access to a framework, based on empirical evidence from around the world, that helps them to craft and implement effective policies.
Investing in women’s financial inclusion makes sense. Increasing their economic participation speeds up development, helps overcome poverty, improves children’s health and nutrition, and boosts child education. Women own up to one third of small businesses in developing countries, and can be important drivers of economic growth and job creation.
Much work remains to be done to address structural inequalities that prevent women from accessing finance, and from achieving their full potential. These include legal, regulatory, societal, and cultural barriers that prevent women from registering businesses, owning land or property, or opening bank accounts.
Increasing women’s financial inclusion, and narrowing the gender gap through gender responsive financial policy and regulation, has been at the forefront of AFI’s policy discourse since members adopted the Denarau Action Plan (DAP) in 2016, committing themselves to addressing barriers, advancing gender inclusive finance, and promoting female leadership.
Through peer learning, knowledge products, and capacity-building initiatives, the AFI network has significantly expanded our understanding of how to develop and implement effective gender inclusive policy.
At the 2024 Global Policy Forum, AFI revealed its Gender Inclusive Finance Policy Model. For the first time, policymakers now have access to a framework, based on empirical evidence from around the world, that helps them to craft and implement effective policies.
Gender Inclusive Finance CommitteeAFI’s Gender Inclusive Finance Committee provides leadership in advancing and promoting women’s financial inclusion in the AFI network and the implementation of the Denarau Action Plan. Members are: Central Bank of Egypt, Central Bank of Eswatini, Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO), Banque Centrale de la République de Guinée, Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan and State Bank of Pakistan.
Committee members
Mrs. May Abulnaga
First Sub Governor – Governor’s Technical Office
Central Bank of Egypt (CHAIR)
Central Bank of Egypt (CHAIR)
Mr. Syed Samar Hasnain
Executive Director, Group Head – Financial Inclusion
State Bank of Pakistan (VICE-CHAIR)
State Bank of Pakistan (VICE-CHAIR)
Ms. Felicia P.N. Diamini-Kunene
Deputy Governor
Central Bank of Eswatini
Central Bank of Eswatini
Mr. Ibrahima Kanda Diallo
Director of Supervision of Financial Institutions
Banque Centrale de la République de Guinée
Banque Centrale de la République de Guinée
Ms. Abduganiyeva Dilbar Anvarovna
Director of Financial Education and Inclusion Department
Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Mrs. Niffone Jacqueline Dabou
Director of Financial Inclusion
Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest – BCEAO
Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest – BCEAO
2024 Gender Inclusive Finance Ambassador Institutions
CENTRALE BANK VAN SURINAME
BANQUE CENTRALE DE TUNISIE
CENTRAL BANK OF THE GAMBIA
NATIONAL RESERVE BANK OF TONGA
BANQUE CENTRALE DES ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST (BCEAO)
SUPERINTENDENCIA DE BANCOS DE LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA (SBRD)
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