In early September, Johannesburg became a meeting point for leaders from finance, policy and technology to address one of the defining challenges of our time: how to build systems that include everyone. Their conclusion was clear and urgent – inclusive digital public infrastructure is the foundation of opportunity, especially for the 700 million women who are still excluded from the formal financial system.
As Christine Wu, interim co-chief executive of Absa Group, told delegates: ‘When women rise up, we all rise up. And the future we will shape together will undoubtedly be bright. Not only justice is at stake in the financial landscape, but also development is at stake.
The 2025 Financial Inclusion Forum, organized by Women’s World Banking, focuses on three fundamental pillars of digital public infrastructure: digital ID, inclusive payments and consumer protection.
Together, these elements determine whether financial systems are merely accessible – or truly usable and reliable. By 2030, digital ID systems could achieve an economic value of $13.7 trillion, a large portion of which will benefit women.
Building Blocks for Confidence and Growth
Natalie Batzis, senior program officer at the Gates Foundation, began a keynote session with a provocation: ‘Our goal today is to make you uncomfortable – that’s why you’re up late tonight worrying about the people who’ve been left out.’
The inconvenience is justified. Globally, 850 million people still do not have an official ID, with women disproportionately affected. Without it, they can’t open accounts, register a business or access credit.
The insights shared during the Forum highlighted persistent obstacles as well as promising solutions. Luis Gustavo Mansur Siqueira, head of financial citizenship at Banco Central do Brasil, reflected on the success of Brazil’s instant payment system Pix: ,We started with an agent banking network in 2003, then gradually allowed digital account opening and new players. By the time Pix was introduced, the ecosystem was ready – and that’s why its adoption was so fast.,
Call for women-centric design
While digital tools are spreading rapidly – there are more than 1,200 fintech companies in Africa alone, up from 450 in 2020 – usage continues to lag. Reason: Most services are not designed keeping women in mind.
Nolwazi Hlophe, senior expert at South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority, warned about the risks: ‘For women, trust starts with transparency, choice and the reassurance that their data will be used responsibly.’
Fintech leaders like Aria Widyanto, chief risk and sustainability officer at Indonesian lender Amartha, reiterated the urgency and power of designing with women’s realities in mind. She explained: ‘Two key barriers – low digital literacy and the psychological barrier where women don’t feel they belong – drive inaction. Our hybrid model has reached 1.6 million women in two years, and these customers have become active users.’
Commitments and Partnerships
Forum discussions did more than diagnose problems; He pressed for bold commitments. Women’s World Banking announces two global goals for 2035. First, every country has a national digital ID system that tracks women’s enrollment – increasing women’s digital payments by 20%. Second, each country adopts consumer protection policies that reduce the gender gap in financial services by 10 percentage points.
Collaboration is important. Francesca Brown, global director of policy and advocacy at Women’s World Banking, emphasized: ,Partnership is not optional – it is the only way to connect identity, payments, and security into systems women can trust. No single actor can single-handedly eliminate gender discrimination.,
From forums to the future of your market
The Johannesburg stage was not an isolated incident. It deliberately stood alongside the G20 and Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion dialogues, linking high-level rhetoric with on-the-ground action. Delegates – from central bankers to fintech entrepreneurs – wrote postcards for their future, promising to take concrete steps to create a more inclusive DPI.
Monique Nsanjabaganwa, former Vice-President of the African Union Commission, offered a powerful reminder: ‘Finance is like water; It will always flow where there are viable projects. Let’s ensure that women are also involved in those projects.
The evidence is overwhelming: Inclusion for women means a stronger economy for all. When women access finance, they invest in families, communities and nations. When systems are designed for women, they work better for everyone.
But rhetoric won’t move the needle. The central theme of the forum still rings true beyond the conference walls: it is time to move from dialogue to delivery. The tools are here. The market is ready. What is now needed is commitment by policy-makers, regulators, financial service providers and investors to make financial systems not only accessible but also equitable.
The next decade will decide whether more than 700 million excluded women will remain invisible or become drivers of global development. What role will you play in ensuring that they are not left behind?
Marina Dimova is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Arianne Wonder Women is the Integrated Marketing and Content Senior Specialist at World Banking.
Read the latest from WWB Policy Handbook for Women’s Financial Inclusion Draft for consultation and Financial Services Provider Inclusive Product Design Guide.
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