Published by International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Published on 25 April 2024
Digital technology provides an opportunity to reach approximately 1.7 billion adults. worldwide who remain unbanked. Digital financial services (DFS) can make a valuable contribution to the economic growth of a country. Digital financial inclusion (DFI) is key to the attainment of most (80 percent) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Notably, DFI is pivotal for the achievement of SDG 5, on the economic empowerment of women and gender equality, as it promises to extend financial access to 35 percent of women globally—nearly 980 million people remain excluded from the formal financial system. Digital financial services have also provided a viable strategy in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). pandemic, given the challenges created by the pandemic and the associated risks that threaten to expand existing digital and gender gaps.
