Our Impact
Explore our contributions to DFS policymaking and find out what we’ve learned along the way.
We accelerate inclusive policy for Digital Financial Services (DFS) by…
Providing direct technical assistance to governments
Connecting regulators to capacity-building opportunities
Creating and sharing digital tools and resources
Working closely with partners
Our reach
Our influence
We contribute to DFS policy and regulation reform
8 policies improved or adopted through direct assistance
16 countries and 2 regions in which we’ve contributed to the drafting, review, or implementation of digital finance policies, regulations, and strategies
35+ civil society representatives from 6 countries convened in a year-long advocacy panel for women’s digital financial inclusion
Our approach
We work directly with governments to provide technical assistance that improves the use of digital financial services, especially for women and other underserved groups that have traditionally been excluded from the formal economy.
While our technical support often includes market analysis, drafting and reviewing policy and regulation, convening dialogues, and hosting workshops, we also provide other types of customised support that respond directly to the needs and interests of governments.
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We provide technical assistance and capacity-building to regulators
3177 professionals trained from 20 countries
30+ workshops, trainings, forums, peer exchanges in 9 countries
5 official training partners with global academic and training institutions
34% women trained to date (with the goal to increase participation to at least 50% women in 2022)
Our approach
We support governments in achieving their DFS-related policy and regulatory goals by co-develop a plan to use UNCDF technical assistance to improve or adopt include legal reforms. This includes deep stakeholder engagement and co-creation of a learning agenda that builds the know-how to responds to the state of the market and the specific needs of their people and institutions.
With a clear reform plan, we then work closely with our training and academic partners to provide scholarships and learning opportunities aligned with these goals. Finally, in close coordination with partners governments, our team provides additional, targeted technical support to ensure changes are sustained.
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We create and share digital tools and resources
9 guides define a transparent process for inclusive policy and regulatory design
26 tools and templates that provide practical resources to implement inclusive policy reforms
8 briefing notes on regulatory aspects of the Digital Economy that inform regulators and policymakers on emerging issues they need to know
Our approach
We seek to be “team players” by sharing and publishing the resources, templates, tools, and research we develop. All resources available in English and French to ensure broad accessibility in our markets.
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We work closely with partners
Key partners
Regulators
Development organisations
Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at University of Cambridge
Fletcher School Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion at Tufts University
Our approach
We work with and through partners to make the most of policy opportunities.
We’ve seen how strong and complementary relationships with development agencies, civil society, the public sector, and the private sector can contribute to a more resilient policymaking process.
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Lessons learned
DFS policymaking does not exist in a bubble. Just like every other sector, we’ve needed to stay agile to stay relevant. We’ve pivoted and reflected and adjusted and refined.
For example, we’ve learned that we can mitigate risks to DFS by diversifying and strengthening relationships while broadening our areas of expertise.
We’ve also learned that digital capacity-building isn’t going anywhere. If we work closely with partners, internal champions, and external stakeholders, we can bring people together around a clear policy goal and support them in developing the skills to create more inclusive digital ecosystems.
Read more to see how we’re applying what we’ve learned to the year ahead.
