Fed struggles to assess state of US economy as government shutdown shuts off key data

When it comes to setting monetary policy for the world’s largest economy, what data drives decision-making? In ordinary times, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and voting members of the Federal Open Market Committee, which usually meets eight times a year, have a wealth of information at their disposal, including key statistics such as monthly employment […]

Continue Reading

How Morocco’s New WFI Coalition Redefines Business-as-Usual

Morocco is taking a bold step to transform its financial system into a true enabler of women’s economic empowerment. In partnership with CGAP, Bank Al-Maghrib and the Ministry of Economy and Finance are in the process of launching a “Women’s Financial Inclusion (WFI) Coalition”. Embedded within the governance of Morocco’s upcoming next phase of the […]

Continue Reading

President Trump’s ‘golden age’ economic message undercut by his desire for much lower interest rates – which typically signal a weak jobs market

President Donald Trump seems to want to have it both ways on the U.S. economy. On the one hand, he recently said the economy is in its “golden age” and referred to the U.S. as the “hottest country anywhere in the world.” Yet at the same time, he has outright demanded that the Federal Reserve […]

Continue Reading

Towards Right-Fit IMM: Orienting Around Outcomes

Strengthening outcomes orientation means making impact measurement and management (IMM) fit for outcomes, designed around an organization’s context and purposes so outcomes data and evidence can inform strategic, capital, and operational decisions. In a previous blog, we argued that IMM must integrate outcomes in a fit-for-purpose way. Now, we’re ready to share a work-in-progress framework […]

Continue Reading

SoftBank Approves Final $22.5 Billion to Complete $30 Billion OpenAI Investment

SoftBank Group has approved the release of a $22.5 billion second installment to finalize its planned $30 billion investment in OpenAI, according to a report from The Information. The decision underscores the Japanese conglomerate’s deepening commitment to artificial intelligence and positions the deal as one of the largest single investments ever made in the sector. […]

Continue Reading

Private Credit Funds Triple to $1.6 Trillion Amid Structural Shift in Lending

📈 Summary The global private credit market has expanded dramatically over the past ten years, reaching $1.6 trillion in assets under management (AUM) in 2025, according to data from Preqin and Fitch Ratings Fitch Ratings. Once a niche segment of alternative finance, private credit has evolved into a mainstream asset class, rivaling traditional bank lending […]

Continue Reading

EIB Group Commits €9.2 Billion to Housing, Energy, and Healthcare Innovation

💶 Summary On October 23, 2025, the Boards of Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) approved a sweeping €9.2 billion investment package aimed at strengthening Europe’s infrastructure and social resilience. The funding targets affordable housing, energy security, and child healthcare, while deepening engagement with civil society and global […]

Continue Reading

Unlocking Invisible Barriers to Women’s Inclusion in East Africa | Blog

Making the financial sector truly work for both women and men will require a systemic shift. This starts with better understanding the underlying norms driving the behavior of all actors, and then designing interventions that can make change happen. Invisible gender-norm-based barriers prevent the financial system from meeting women’s needs at scale. Recent market system gender […]

Continue Reading

Relying heavily on contractors can cut attendance by 27% for museums, theaters and other arts nonprofits – new research

Many nonprofits face growing pressure from their donors and other funders to do more with less as their costs rise and their budgets don’t keep up. One way these organizations are responding is by trying to save money on their staffing by hiring contractors, consultants and temporary staff instead of full-time employees. But those flexible […]

Continue Reading

Climate Risk Assessment: Three Questions FSPs Should Ask

As climate events become more frequent and intense, inclusive FSPs are increasingly being asked to conduct Physical Climate Risk Assessments by regulators, investors, and other stakeholders. Physical Climate Risk Assessments (PCRA) quantify how climate-related hazards (like floods, cyclones, or droughts) are likely to impact a financial institution’s portfolio and operations.   Physical Climate Risk Assessments […]

Continue Reading