Promoting Financial Inclusion: Empowerment of Youth and Women | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

In many developing countries, lack of access to financial services as well as high transaction costs often pose significant challenges to people living in poverty.

With the international community set to define a post-2015 development framework for sustainable development, financial inclusion has become an important issue on the international policy agenda as it has the potential to contribute to poverty reduction, economic and social development and financial stability.

Many factors are at the source of lack of access to financial services - physical, economic, regulatory and cultural. The poor, women, youth, rural population and those engaged in the informal economy are particularly severely affected. The use of new technology and innovative business models that help overcome barriers to access could contribute to improved inclusion.

The expert group meeting (EGM), from 12 to 14 November at UNCTAD in Geneva, will discuss the impact of financial access on small and medium-sized enterprises, micro-enterprises and individuals, particularly women and youth, and the means of improving access to financial services and reducing their transaction costs, including making remittances faster, safer and more secure, and maximizing their development impact.

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