Infrastructure

2023 Annual Report

Scaling responsible digital payments to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly financial equality for women

IWCA Endorses Responsible Digital Payments to Accelerate Women's Economic Participation in Coffee Value Chain

The IWCA endorses UN Responsible Digital Payments as a game-changer for women at every step of the coffee supply chain.

How to shape inclusive financial ecosystems with interoperable QR codes

Interoperability drives global digital inclusion. Over 25% more adults access government payments, but siloed systems hinder seamless transactions.

Reaching Financial Equality for Women (2023 edition)

A 10-point action plan for governments and businesses to prioritize women’s digital financial inclusion

Three key findings that show that financial equality is within reach in our lifetime

New data from the World Bank’s Global Findex Database 2021 confirms the centrality of digital payments in reaching financial equality for all. 

LEARNING SERIES >> What will it take for small merchants to embrace digital payments?

Small merchants exert a big influence on the global economy.

Accelerating responsible digital payments for COVID-19 relief

The devastating social and economic impacts of COVID-19 have heightened the need for proven solutions to keep the Sustainable Development Goals within reach

Improving Financial Inclusion through the Delivery of Cash Transfer Programmes: The Case of Mexico's Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera Programme

This paper follows a quasi-experimental research design to assess the impact of the electronic payment system of Mexico’s Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera (POP) programme.

New blockchain for social impact report

The new Stanford Business “Blockchain for Social Impact" report is out! The most common use case among its sample of organizations is records and verification, whereas the challenges cited most often are regulatory. The interviewees reported that launching the project was harder than anticipated.

Blockchain for Social Business: Principles and Applications

This paper identifies and discusses principles and applications of Blockchain that enhance trust, transparency, and auditability in Social Business (SB) activities. It outlines the challenges related to creating a native cryptocurrency for SB, and barriers to infrastructure and technology adoption by different SB stakeholders.

Distributed Ledger Technology: What Is It and Why Do We Care?

Blockchain Series: Blog 1…

Distributed Ledgers: Looking Past the Hype

Blockchain Series: Blog 2…

DLT: Keep Calm and Let the Evidence Speak

Blockchain Series: Blog 3…

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Identity: Prospects and Pitfalls Ahead

Blockchain Series: Blog 4

Distributing Production: Can Distributed Ledgers Fuel a New Wave of Supply-Chain Innovation?

Blockchain Series: Blog 5

In the IMF’s Fight Against Corruption, Digital Payments are a Powerful Weapon

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde is to be applauded for her recent leadership in the fight against corruption, and her recognition that there is an increasingly limited role for cash …

Cash Digitization: UN Collaboration, Coordination, and Harmonization Opportunities

New Key to Help Unlock the Power of Digital Payments

Across the global policy community, the jury is now in about the power of digital payments to drive financial inclusion, particularly for women and the poor; improve efficiency and transpare…

An Introduction to Digital Financial Services (DFS)

Digital Financial Services (DFS) is a relatively new, low-cost means of digital access to transactional financial services. Often termed ‘mobile money’ or ‘mobile financial services,’ DFS is…

How cities will win – digital payments and the future of smart

Transportation Series: Blog 3