Rural Finance and Investment Insights: May

Note from the editor

As the usage of digital solutions increased significantly over the past year, the evolution of digital financial services represents an opportunity to reach previously excluded and underserved populations with more tailored financial services. In this month’s insight, the editorial team selected a few studies and blog to help you better adapt to and take advantage of this fast-paced growth.

The Role of Development Funders in Supporting Inclusive Fintechs

This analysis uses available data to paint a picture of fintech investments by development funders – relative to commercial funders – and understand whether development funders are adding value by supporting markets and companies that do not receive/qualify for commercial funding or that have an opportunity to provide solutions that can enable low-income populations build resilience and capture opportunities

Low-cost, cashless loans for smallholder farmers: the case of FarMart in India

The blog introduces a digital leasing and credit platform in India, FarMart. FarMart is a leasing platform that connects farmers looking for agricultural machinery (such as tractors and tillers) with other farmers that own them and are willing to rent. It expands on its original leasing model by adding a digital credit service to its app, specifically aimed at providing low-cost loans for financially underserved smallholders

Digital Financial Literacy

This Guideline Note presents key considerations for regulators and policymakers to understand, develop, facilitate policies and design interventions to advance digital financial literacy.

Assessment of Long-term Finance Providers for Small and Medium Agribusinesses : Stocktaking, Lessons, and Case Studies

The study introduces a brief discussion of the importance of Long-term (LT) agribusiness SME finance and provides a stocktaking analysis covering commercial and development banks, investment funds, and agribusiness companies. It concludes with a comparative analysis, offering overall observations, policy recommendations and suggestions for future research. In the final section, there are five in-depth case studies of distinct types of LT finance providers along with lessons learned.

" allowfullscreen="">

Egypt: Making Microinsurance Work for Women