Inclusive Finance Frontiers

By 2050, one in five people worldwide will be over 60, and most of them will live in low- and middle-income countries. Yet conventional pension schemes, built around formal employment, leave out the millions who live on unpredictable incomes. Women, in particular, are overrepresented in informal work and therefore most exposed to old-age poverty. In this episode, we explore why conventional pension schemes leave so many behind, what contributory models for informal workers look like in practice, and what it will take to scale them. We also ask what structural, financial, and cultural barriers must be addressed for these schemes to deliver genuine security in old age.   Guests: Fiona Stewart, the Global Lead on Aging and Pension in the Social Protection Global Practice at the World Bank Group Gaspard Bayigane, Head, Long-Term Savings Scheme at Ejo Heza, Rwanda Social Security Board With a contribution from Protais Tuyisenge, Ejo Heza pensioner Producer: Lamis Daoud, CGAP External Affairs Officer Audio Editor and Sound Producer: Samantha Malhotra, World Bank Group Interactive Media Program Executive Producer: Jahda Swanborough, CGAP Communications Lead © CGAP/World Bank, 2026

As El Niño-driven droughts and intensifying hurricane seasons push millions into crisis, one question is reshaping disaster finance: what if communities built financial resilience before the storm hits? This episode explores two pioneering models — from Barbados and the Horn of Africa — proving that preparation can mean the difference between a shock and a crisis. We examine how Barbados has built a layered national disaster financing strategy and why digital payment infrastructure is just as critical as the funds themselves. In the Horn of Africa, the DRIVE Project (De-risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies in the Horn of Africa) uses parametric insurance to protect pastoralists from drought, and how intentional product design has ensured that 55% of its beneficiaries are women. Guests: • Dr., The Most Honorable Kevin Greenidge, Governor, Central Bank of Barbados • Hope Murera, Managing Director and Group CEO, ZEP-RE With a contribution from Charity Mueni, Community Mobilizer, DRIVE Project, Kenya Producer: Lamis Daoud, CGAP External Affairs Officer Audio Editor and Sound Producer: Samantha Malhotra, World Bank Group Interactive Media Program Executive Producer: Jahda Swanborough, CGAP Communications Lead © CGAP/World Bank, 2026

🎙 Our podcast, Inclusive Finance Frontiers, is back. Agentic AI, stablecoins, inclusive insurance, and pensions for informal workers are reshaping finance for vulnerable communities, but what questions do they raise? In a new limited series, we're digging into how emerging technologies and innovative approaches can help people navigate risk, build resilience, and access opportunity—if used responsibly. We'll hear from regulators, fintech innovators, investors, and global experts. But most importantly, from the people on the receiving end of these services. Tune in every two weeks for a new episode. Follow Inclusive Finance Frontiers on your favorite platform to keep up with the latest conversations.  Dr., The Most Honorable Kevin Greenidge, Governor, Central Bank of Barbados  Ezechiel Copic, Director, Digital Currency Policy, Visa  Fiona Stewart, Global Lead on Aging and Pension in the Social Protection Global Practice, World Bank Group  Gabriela Eguidazu, Vice President Digital transformation and innovation, FMBBVA  Gaspard Bayigane, Head of Long-Term Savings Scheme – Ejo Heza, Rwanda Social Security Board  Hope Murera, Managing Director & Group CEO of ZEP-RE  Iota Kaousar Nassr, Senior Analyst, OECD  Mercina Tilleman Perez, Vice President Circle Impact, Circle  Monica Brand Engel, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quona  Nandini Harihareswara, Director, Fair Digital Finance, Consumers International] https://www.cgap.org/news-and-stories/podcast

Three years ago, conflict erupted in Sudan, and its toll continues to be devastating. The crisis has caused profound human suffering and dismantled the systems households once relied on to absorb shocks. The financial sector has been hit hard: liquidity has dried up, infrastructure destroyed, and social protection mechanisms unraveled. Humanitarian actors have scaled up cash assistance, but face serious obstacles: limited liquidity, fragmented financial service providers, and complex payment processes. This has resulted in accumulated delays of up to 200 days in delivering cash transfers in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis. In this episode, we explore an emerging solution: the Shared Distribution Network (SEND), designed by CGAP and the Cash Consortium of Sudan to cut delays and improve cost-effectiveness. Featured Voices: Rayan Nimir, Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Collective Sudan (formerly, Cash Consortium of Sudan) William Cook, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP Hiba Al-Madani, a cash recipient and small business owner in Sudan Producer: Lamis Daoud, CGAP External Affairs Officer Audio Editor and Sound Producer: Samantha Malhotra, World Bank Group Interactive Media Program Executive Producer: Jahda Swanborough, CGAP Communications Lead © CGAP/World Bank, 2026 Special thanks to Sara Murray from CGAP for her expertise and insights that brought this episode to life, the Cash Collective for conducting the interview with Hiba Al-Madani, and Samah Salman for dubbing Hiba’s contribution. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. To learn more, visit www.cgap.org. If you have any feedback, connect with us at [email protected].

As climate instability intensifies, frontline communities need better tools to adapt and recover. Yet, when extreme weather strikes, the institutions best positioned to help—microfinance institutions (MFIs)—have historically pulled back, reducing lending during crises, just when clients need capital the most. Today, a new wave of innovations is changing that equation, in ways that still make financial sense for lenders. This episode explores two approaches that are flipping the script on how inclusive finance institutions respond to climate shocks: Recovery lending: Post-disaster loans that help households and small businesses rebuild quickly Contingent lines of credit: Pre-arranged financing that can be activated when a specific, objective trigger is met We dive into real-world examples from Malawi and Colombia, where these approaches are helping MFIs stay engaged during crises and unlock faster recovery for climate-affected communities. Featured Voices: Karen Lewin, Financial Services Head, VisionFund International Juan Camilo Flórez Falla, Head of Digital Banking, Bancamía Grecium Kachingwe, a fish vendor from Phalombe, Malawi Producer: Lamis Daoud, CGAP External Affairs Officer Audio Editor and Sound Producer: Samantha Malhotra, World Bank Group Interactive Media Program Executive Producer: Jahda Swanborough, CGAP Communications Lead © CGAP/World Bank, 2026 Special thanks to Peter Zetterli and Michel Hanouch from CGAP for helping shape this episode. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. To learn more, visit www.cgap.org. If you have any feedback, connect with us at [email protected].