Inclusive Digital Financial Services: A Reference Guide for Regulators

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Financial Services for the Poor Program (FSP) believes that effective financial services are paramount in the fight against poverty. Nonetheless, today more than 1.7 billion people live outside the formal financial sector. Increasing their access to high quality, affordable financial services will accelerate the well-being of households, communities, and economies in the developing world. One of the most promising ways to deliver these financial services to the poor – profitably and at scale – is by using digital payment platforms.

Together with partner organizations, FSP has developed a reference guide as a public good to assist regulators who are exploring policy options for enabling the development of inclusive digital financial services. We appreciate policymakers’ responsibility to safeguard the stability and integrity of the financial system and protect consumers against harm as markets open to innovation.