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15 Years of Impact
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Key Policy Areas
Digital Financial Services
Data
Consumer Empowerment
Financial Inclusion Strategy
Inclusive Green Finance
Global Standards Proportionality
SME Finance
Working groups
Consumer Empowerment and Market Conduct Working Group (CEMCWG)
Global Standards Proportionality Working Group (GSPWG)
Digital Financial Services Working Group (DFSWG)
Inclusive Green Finance Working Group (IGFWG)
Financial Inclusion Data and Impact Working Group (FIDIWG)
SME Finance Working Group (SMEFWG)
Financial Inclusion Strategy Peer Learning Group (FISPLG)
Regional Initiatives
African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI)
Eastern Europe & Central Asia Policy Initiative (ECAPI)
Financial Inclusion Initiative for Latin American and the Caribbean (FILAC)
Pacific Islands Regional Initiative (PIRI)
South Asia Region Financial Inclusion Initiative (SARFII)
Arab Region Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (ARFIPI)
Training & Development
AFI Educate online courses
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Certified Expert in Financial Inclusion Policy
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
15 Years of Impact
15 Years of Impact
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
15 Years of Impact
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
Maya Declaration
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
Accords
Impact Stories
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
Key Policy Areas
Key Policy Areas
Digital Financial Services
Data
Consumer Empowerment
Financial Inclusion Strategy
Inclusive Green Finance
Global Standards Proportionality
SME Finance
Global Standards Proportionality Working Group (GSPWG)
Working Groups
Working Groups
Consumer Empowerment and Market Conduct Working Group (CEMCWG)
Digital Financial Services Working Group (DFSWG)
Inclusive Green Finance Working Group (IGFWG)
Financial Inclusion Data and Impact Working Group (FIDIWG)
SME Finance Working Group (SMEFWG)
Financial Inclusion Strategy Peer Learning Group (FISPLG)
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
Regional Initiatives
Regional Initiatives
African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI)
Eastern Europe & Central Asia Policy Initiative (ECAPI)
Financial Inclusion Initiative for Latin American and the Caribbean (FILAC)
Pacific Islands Regional Initiative (PIRI)
South Asia Region Financial Inclusion Initiative (SARFII)
Arab Region Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (ARFIPI)
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
Training & Development
Training & Development
AFI Educate online courses
AFI Engage
Certified Expert in Financial Inclusion Policy
Training & Development
AFI Educate online courses
AFI Engage
Certified Expert in Financial Inclusion Policy
!Font Awesome Pro 6.6.0 by @fontawesome – https://fontawesome.com License – https://fontawesome.com/license (Commercial License) Copyright 2024 Fonticons, Inc.
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Central Bank of Nigeria

Leveraging Agent Networks to Drive Women’s Financial Inclusion 
Country
Nigeria
Member institution
Central Bank of Nigeria
Timeline
January 2021 – April 2022
Thematic area
Gender Inclusive Finance 

Context
Financial institutions rely heavily on agents in reaching rural areas of the country and onboarding unbanked clients. Equally, leveraging agent networks is a critical driver to close the gender gap in access to financial services. A  2019 survey found that employing female agents enhances communication and comfort levels for female customers and engenders trust in the products or services offered. However, only 22% of sampled agents were female.  

Boosting the number of female agents represented an opportunity to financially include more women. To do this, CBN needed a well articulated strategy to grow female agent networks that would build on existing agent banking guidelines, which would in turn drive women’s financial education and build their trust in financial services. 

Project Activities
Formulation of a National Strategy on Leveraging Agent Networks for Women’s Financial Inclusion. The strategy outlined specific activities and gender-focused initiatives, accompanied by action plans for financial institutions and super agents. 
Development of the strategy was spearheaded by the Financial Inclusion Delivery Unit within the Development Finance Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria. 

Outcome
By addressing the barriers identified in the assessment and devising a comprehensive strategy, significant progress was made in advancing women’s financial inclusion in Nigeria. The National Strategy provided a roadmap for financial institutions and super agents to actively promote gender balance within agent networks, fostering an environment where women can access and benefit from financial services. The ongoing monitoring and evaluation by the Financial Inclusion Delivery Unit further ensures the effective implementation of the strategy, driving tangible progress in bridging the gender gap in financial inclusion and empowering women economically.