Category: Finance

The global risk landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, posing significant threats to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As extreme weather, macroeconomic shocks, conflict, and other risks intensify and intertwine, they can create ripple effects that amplify existing vulnerabilities and put both human and development progress in peril. People living in poverty bear […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally change the financial sector for years to come. The integration of AI technologies – such as machine learning, natural language processing, generative AI (GenAI), and advanced data analytics – will enable financial institutions to optimize their operations, enhance customer experiences, develop innovative products, and better manage risks. AI is already […]

Open finance in India has grown rapidly in the last year. As of December 2024, 120 million accounts had been linked through Account Aggregators (AAs) – India’s version of open finance – up from 39 million in December 2023. According to Sahamati’s annual report, more than 570 regulated financial entities were a part of the […]

Financial health – or financial well-being – is a multidimensional concept that encompasses an individual’s ability to manage finances, cope with shocks, pursue goals, and feel confident about their financial future. Measuring financial health could help government authorities, in particular financial sector authorities, develop policies, regulations, and supervisory tools that enhance financial capability, promote financial […]

BUENOS AIRES / WASHINGTON, April 9, 2025 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed Tuesday that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Argentina on a US$20 billion, 48-month loan programme, marking a key development in President Javier Milei’s drive to stabilize the country’s fragile economy. The agreement now awaits formal approval from the IMF’s […]

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies have a unique opportunity to accelerate the growth of B2B e-commerce platforms that serve micro-retailers or neighborhood shops – also called kiranas, dukas, and many other names. In emerging economies, these shops provide essential goods, create employment, and play a crucial role in local economies and community life. They serve […]

Tax Day is right around the corner – an annual reminder that without the option to file jointly, singles pay more per dollar earned than married people. Tax advantages are just one of over 1,000 legal and economic benefits married couples enjoy, a disparity worsened by marketplace and employer practices. Despite its disadvantages, single living […]

In the next decade, over a billion young people will reach working age in developing economies. With current trends, around 40% of these young people, disproportionately women, will fail to find a job. Hence, it is not surprising that the World Bank and other global actors have identified the creation of jobs as one of […]

The financial inclusion community has a chance to influence a key document that guides policymakers in balancing integrity and financial inclusion objectives – the Guidance on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Measures and financial inclusion (the Guidance) issued by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).  FATF released the revised Guidance for public […]

‘Hey there, Mercy! Welcome to Farmer.Chat– my name is Grace. Need help finding something? Just ask me!’ For some, receiving the above message may bring a sense of optimism that relevant help is on the way; for others, frustration that this is clearly a robot (chatbot) and not a real person. But for rural women, […]