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Pandemic draws more Latin American poor into banking system

A Fine Balance: Regulation & Greater Economic Opportunity in the Case of Payment Gateways for Merchants

Opening new payment gateways for merchants presents risks but much greater opportunities. Striking the right balance between fostering innovative services and managing risk is crucial.

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Identity: Prospects and Pitfalls Ahead

Blockchain Series: Blog 4

A Regulatory Diagnostic Toolkit for Digital Financial Services in Emerging Markets Toolkit

This University of New South Wales paper proposes a framework – a Regulatory Diagnostic Toolkit (RDT) – designed to support financial regulators in emerging markets to advance their regulatory regimes for DFS.

In South-East Asia, Grab and Gojek bring banking to the masses

Why should retailers shift to digital payments? An average digital payments user of Grab, a ride-hailing service, makes twice as many transactions than those who use cash and is 30% more likely to use several of Grab's services.

Balancing financial inclusion and data protection in South Africa: Black Sash Trust v Minister of Social Development

The article advances the argument that effective participation of social grant beneficiaries in the financial services sector can be realized if personal data protection measures are taken seriously.

Picking the Gridlock: Digital Payments in the Transportation Sector

Transportation Series: Blog 1 (Introduction)

For whom the cash tolls

Transportation Series: Blog 2

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

Transportation Series: Blog 3

Truly mobile money – ride-sharing and mobile payments in South and Southeast Asia

Transportation Series: Blog 4

Accelerating the SDGs: How Digital Finance Can Ignite Faster Progress Toward the Global Goals

As world leaders met at the U.N. General Assembly in New York last week, many discussions focused on how to ignite greater progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasingly, digital financial inclusion is emerging as a key answer.

Accelerating Financial Inclusion in South-East Asia with Digital Finance

In this paper, they focus specifically on areas where digital financial services have significant potential to accelerate financial inclusion through their impact on existing business models. They also provide recommendations for governments and regulatory authorities on how to encourage the development of digital financial services to increase inclusion.

UN report: Social network payments now reach nearly US $3 trillion in China

Payments on messaging and e-commerce platforms set to increase China’s GDP by $236 billion by 2025, unlocking new economic opportunities for people and small businesses

Digital payments are key implementation tool for Global Goals, say EU leaders

During this year’s European Development Days (EDDs), which took place in Brussels from 15-16 June, digital technologies and the digitization of payments emerged as key enablers for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mexico’s route to financial inclusion begins with commitment to reduce the use of cash

One of the largest economies in Latin America keeps growth momentum going by joining the United Nations’ Better Than Cash Alliance to foster a financially inclusive economy

In the hands of women: A reflection on the gender gap in financial inclusion

Did you ever wonder why there is not an International Men’s Day? There actually is such a day, by the way—it’s on November 19th, but there aren’t too many people marking it with a night off from cooking or cleaning or childcare for the guys!

Inter-American Development Bank becomes first regional development bank to join partnership to advance digital payments

The organization joins a UN-hosted alliance of governments, companies and international organizations to accelerate the move towards digitization of payments

Pioneer governments lead the way on shifting from cash to digital payments

By BTCA Communications Team

Modelo Perú: A Unique Approach to Financial Inclusion

By Jeffrey Bower, Digital Finance Specialist, Better Than Cash Alliance

Watch: Inspirational speeches at UN Global Goals Summit

The President of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, as well as Ministers and other high level figures from Peru, Belgium, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and South Africa, delivered powerful speeches on how digital payments and greater financial inclusion are accelerating progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals.