Data

Beyond Access: From Accounts to Opportunity

The World Bank’s Global Findex 2025 is a scorecard on how well countries, across the globe are transitioning from cash toward equitable digital payments. Headline number shows that 79 percent of adults now own an account, up 28 points since 2011. Financial exclusion for women remains significant and many accounts remain inactive.

Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: A Call for Sovereign Roadmaps

With the DPI Roadmap Playbook as a guide, Africa has a unique opportunity to shape a digital future that is people-first, inclusive, and sovereign.

We have reached a potent moment for the global DPI agenda. Through its G20 presidency, how can South Africa accelerate the momentum?

The co-authors are part of a consortium that came together to draft the DPI Roadmap Playbook, an effort welcomed by the Government of South Africa, which holds the 2025 G20 Presidency. The DPI Roadmap Playbook reflects input from many expert advisors, especially Deon Woods-Bell of the Gates Foundation, whose support was instrumental. This expert comment is published across each of the organization’s respective websites.

UNDP welcomes the Better Than Cash Alliance to accelerate financial inclusion through responsible digital payments

The Better Than Cash Alliance has transitioned from UNCDF to join UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub

The Trust Quotient: An ASEAN Policy Toolkit for Unlocking Responsible Digital Payments for Micro-Merchants

Real-world experiences from micro-merchants across ASEAN that highlight the factors that build or erode trust in DFS.

Our Work on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

DPI, encompassing digital payments, identification, and data exchange, can significantly accelerate financial inclusion and economic growth. By enabling secure, scalable, and interoperable systems, DPI reduces costs, enhances security, and expands access to underserved populations.

Global engagement in scaling instant payments: insights, strategies, and trust building

Over the past few months, the Alliance facilitated a series of peer exchanges, bringing together the architects of some of the world’s most dynamic digital payment platforms—systems that process billions of transactions monthly, such as India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Brazil’s rapidly evolving PIX.

Supply-Side Gender Disaggregated Data for Advancing Financial Inclusion: Insights and Areas for Further Research

Explores the collection and use of gender-degreged data and future steps to leverage it for women’s financial inclusion.

Uptake, Use, and Inclusion Gains from Fast Payment Systems: Early Comparative Data

The paper discusses the role of digital public infrastructure (DPI), and specifically fast payment systems (FPSs) in promoting financial inclusion.

Why Does Gender-Disaggregated Data Matter For Reaching Financial Equality?

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.

Progress Report on the Implementation of the G20 High-Level Principles for Digital Financial Inclusion

This progress report compiles responses from a self-assessment survey conducted among both G20 and non-G20 countries, incorporating guidance from international standard-setting bodies. The aim is to produce a comprehensive summary highlighting key findings and suggesting potential next steps for the GPFI.

Positive progress on digital wages

New data confirms that adopting digitization promotes decent work and economic growth and reduces inequality.

Reaching Financial Equality for Women (2023 edition)

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

Igniting women-led development with inclusive digital finance: G20 EMPOWER summit resounding appeal

G20 EMPOWER summit ignites the vital role of digital finance in achieving gender equality

Guide to Data Sources For Financial Inclusion Research

This report introduces five global databases covering account ownership, payments, digital adoption, trust, and the digital gender gap. It suggests data gaps and indicators helpful in fostering evidence-based policymaking.

2022 Annual Report - Scaling responsible digital payments to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly financial equality for women

In 10 years, the Better Than Cash Alliance has spurred a global movement towards the responsible digitization of payments.

From 1% to 30%: the journey of the Philippines towards responsible digital payments

A founding member of the Better Than Cash Alliance, the Philippines has paved the path in transitioning to responsible digital payments, providing many key lessons and insights for other cou…

Scaling up Responsible Digital Payments in the Rwandan Tea Sector

This study lays the foundation for incorporating United Nations Principles for Responsible Digital Payments in the Rwandan tea sector, with the goal of increasing efficiency and improving farmers’ living incomes.

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.