Addressing persistent gaps in women’s financial inclusion

According to CGAP, a global partnership that works to advance the lives of people living in poverty, especially women, through financial inclusion, 3 key issues remain on the table:  

• large remaining financial inclusion gaps, reinforcing existing inequalities;  
• impact of financial inclusion not yet materialised, especially in terms of financial health;  
• increasing consumer risks in a complex digital and data ecosystem, which could reverse hard-won gains.   

CCAF has established the Women Regulators Network, powered by RKE, to address these gaps. The Regulator Knowledge Exchange  was established in 2022 as a peer-led, community-driven platform for public and financial authorities to connect, learn, co-ordinate and collaborate on their approach to digital financial services and digital public infrastructure. 

The RKE today has almost 3,000 community members from over 140 countries, with women regulators making up almost half of the user base of the platform.

As a result, CCAF is uniquely positioned to support community members to drive significant impact in financial inclusion through the Women Regulators Network (WRN), which launched this November.

No one creates change alone. Too often, efforts around equity and inclusion are framed as the responsibility of a singled-out group (often solely women). But the reality is that meaningful change requires all of us. And men have a critical role to play – as partners, allies, listeners and advocates. This is why the WRN is so critical to the dialogue and action for the future of more impactful financial inclusion and I encourage us all to lean into the opportunity that this presents us all.

Hunter Sims, Executive Director, Financial Innovation for Impact (Fii) and Associate Director, CCAF

Benefits for organisations  

Participation in the Women Regulators Network will result in:

• strategic insights that can be powered into actions benefiting policymakers and the communities they represent
• insights for policymakers and regulators, by sharing inclusion and diversity best practices and storytelling
• global visibility and engagement on issues impacting women

The WRN Council  

The WRN Leadership Council will guide the strategic direction and priorities of the WRN. It will be co-chaired by Her Excellency Fatma Abdulla Al Jabri, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates for Financial Crime, Market Conduct and Consumer Protection, and Christina R. Rolle, Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas. They comment:

“Our vision with the Women Regulators Network is to create a future where financial systems are truly inclusive, shaped by the amplified voices and strengthened leadership of women. To achieve this, we will focus on deep collaboration, impactful knowledge exchange, and powerful advocacy. The Council will be our guiding force, tasked with developing the strategies and key performance indicators that will ensure we turn this vision into tangible results. I am honoured to be working alongside Christina and the distinguished members of the Council in this vital endeavour.” says Her Excellency Fatma Abdulla Al Jabri, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates for Financial Crime, Market Conduct and Consumer Protection.

Our vision with the Women Regulators Network is to create a future where financial systems are truly inclusive, shaped by the amplified voices and strengthened leadership of women.

Her Excellency Fatma Abdulla Al Jabri, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates for Financial Crime, Market Conduct and Consumer Protection

“The Women Regulators Network is a global platform to advance issues critical to women’s wellbeing and future prosperity. Our Council will bring together diverse perspectives to deliver outcomes that benefit not only female policymakers, but also women entrepreneurs, leaders, and those excluded from financial services. I’m honoured to Co-Chair this initiative and to collaborate with such an accomplished group within the Council and the wider RKE community.” says Christina R. Rolle, Executive Director, Securities Commission of The Bahamas.

I’m honoured to Co-Chair this initiative and to collaborate with such an accomplished group within the Council and the wider RKE community.

Christina R. Rolle, Executive Director, Securities Commission of The Bahamas

Leadership council members

Going forward, the WRN Leadership Council will:

• provide strategic guidance and oversight for WRN activities
• shape priorities, programmes and measurable outcomes aligned with the WRN’s mission
• champion the WRN within institutions and networks
• support the development and dissemination of gender-intentional regulatory tools and practices
• foster mentorship and leadership development among emerging women regulators
• promote accountability and peer learning across jurisdictions