Publications
Case Study | Feb 12, 2014
The financial inclusion situation in Mexico required policy development to address the disparities in usage and reach of financial services between urban and rural areas. The study describes the formation of the national coordinating body for financial inclusion and the development of a comprehensive data framework to inform policy. The banking agents, mobile payments and tiered-risk account policies and regulations introduced to increase financial inclusion, particularly in the under-served areas, are described. The effects of these interventions are quantified through appropriate data and the remaining challenges to improve the situation are identified.
Case Study | Feb 12, 2014
The study describes the recent evolution of financial inclusion initiatives in the country. It highlights the development and use of core data indicators on access, usage quality and the influence of these on policy formulation. The introduction and results of banking agents are described, as well as the use of monitoring data that lead to the introduction of simplified accounts to increase usage after the banking agent innovation.
Case Study | Feb 12, 2014
The Philippines introduced a micro-saving framework in 2010 to encourage savings in the microfinance market, through a simplified low cost account with a limit on daily balance. The study describes the steps that the regulator took when it appeared that the limit on the balance had an adverse effect on propensity to save. It describes the data gathering exercise and the subsequent policy adjustment, based on the analysis of the data. It highlights the success of the change in policy in terms of increased savings in micro-deposits.
Case Study | Feb 12, 2014
South Africa faced significant inequalities at the beginning of the century, including constrained financial inclusion. As part of a social pact to improve the situation, the banking industry launched a joint simplified product, the Mzansi account. The study details the effect of the introduction of the product and the simultaneous improvement in physical access for banking services, through the use of agreed measurement efforts. It also assesses the situation after the Mzansi initiative and identifies current drivers and issues influencing further improved financial inclusion.
Report | Oct 23, 2013
The note gives the rationale for financial inclusion target-setting, provides an overview of the main approaches to target-setting and sketches the global context in which target-setting is being discussed. The conclusion is reached that target-setting and monitoring should be undertaken at the national (country) level, with global aspirational goals being helpful to prioritise financial inclusion efforts. The note was accepted by the GPFI at the Plenary meeting in St. Petersburg and represents the view of the group on the most appropriate way in which to pursue this very important aspect of financial inclusion.
Report | Oct 9, 2013
This report outlines recent research substantiating the contribution of the private sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in particular for new job creation and investment. It also highlights availability and gaps in SME funding, including for specific subsectors such as women-owned firms and agri-enterprises. New findings and trends highlight the potential of collaborative platforms that have emerged from the G20/GPFI process to combine resources to improve SME access to finance. The report concludes with recommendations for priority issues and work areas for the G20 and the GPFI. The report was produced by the SME Finance Forum on behalf of the GPFI.
Report | Sep 17, 2013
Documents from the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg mentioning the GPFI: the G20 Leaders Declaration, the St.Petersburg Development Outlook, and the St. Petersburg Accountability Report on G20 Development Commitments
Report | Sep 5, 2013
This report summarizes GPFI activities throughout the end of 2012 and the eight months of 2013, presents the main achievements under the Russia’s Presidency and describes the outlook for the rest of 2013 and into the start of the Australian Presidency.
Report | Jul 8, 2013
This inception report covers initial work of the SME Finance Forum since its launch in April 2012, and interim progress of the Global SME Finance Innovation Trust Fund, whose administration was taken over by the SME Finance Forum team in July 2012.
Report | May 21, 2013
This Impact Assessment Framework discusses the importance of rigorous impact evaluation and provides an overview of the relevance, application, strengths, and limitations of impact evaluation techniques of various SME finance policies. The Framework covers experimental and non-experimental approaches that can be used to evaluate a broad context of SME policies and programs and provides examples of actual impact evaluations for each of the components of the SME Finance Policy Guide.
