FinHealth Publications

Digital financial services can play a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 through responsible digital financial inclusion, which promotes inclusive economic growth. The pandemic and other challenges continue to affect emerging economies, particularly women who have less access to technology and resources. However, digital financial services can provide financing for emergencies and help these women gain control of their finances. The digitization of public sector wages and social protection programs has increased the number of women with bank accounts, and the compendium provides evidence of how responsible digital financial inclusion benefits various SDGs, such as improving food security, empowering women, and increasing tax revenue. The compendium is a collaboration between several organizations, including the United Nations and the World Bank.

UNSGSA, Better Than Cash Alliance, UNCDF, CGAP, World Bank Group

In short, Chicago has a history of attracting diverse immigrant populations, but this diversity has not translated to equal opportunities, leading to a highly segregated city with stark financial disparities between racial and ethnic groups. The report highlights these disparities and calls for efforts to address them.

Financial Health Network

The Financial Health Network has documented the negative financial impacts of involvement with the justice system on individuals' financial health. Recently, the Financial Solutions Lab made grants to explore ways to address these issues for justice-involved individuals. The brief synthesizes learnings from the grantees and data from a survey to inform insights and recommendations for practitioners, financial services providers, and policymakers working with returning citizens. Key findings include that people in justice-involved households are less financially healthy and more financially vulnerable. Recommendations include leveraging credible messengers, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and building relationships with financial services providers to help returning citizens access ID and financial services.

Financial Health Network

In Tanzania, the UNCDF's Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) highlights the evolution from financial inclusion to inclusive digital economies. The program, which focuses on forming savings groups and introducing activities to build members' financial and digital capability, will help ensure refugees and host community members can safely save, borrow, and invest to grow their businesses and improve their financial health and well-being.

UNCDF

The Financial Health Network study found that there is strong interest among financial institutions to support consumer financial health, but many institutions do not currently view it as core to their business. The study suggests that through peer learning and use of tools, these institutions could be prompted to do more. Key areas of support identified include the development of tools, education about integrating financial health into product development, and opportunities to share best practices with similar organizations.

Financial Health Network