Resources on social finance

  1. Publication

    Advancing livelihoods through financial inclusion in Iraq

    13 August 2023

    This study was developed by the ILO under the framework of PROSPECTS, which is funded by the Government of the Netherlands. The ILO is collaborating with different partners to enhance the functioning of the private sector while addressing the barriers to decent self-employment.

  2. Document

    Financial services to enhance resilience

    11 August 2023

    Low-income households often work in the informal economy and are more vulnerable to risks than the rest of the population. Yet, they are the least able to cope when crises occur. Access to financial services can improve their resilience and provide them with better coping mechanisms to mitigate and better manage the impact of risks.

  3. Presentation

    Risk of child labour in microfinance: findings from the ILO and 60 Decibels

    10 August 2023

    Approximately 160 million children worldwide (almost 1 in 10) are in child labour. The ILO deploys a range of tools and approaches to combat this scourge, including access to finance. The logic is that, if parents have access to enterprise training and appropriate financial services, they can increase household income and manage risks more effectively, and perhaps not have to resort to child labour. But, in some circumstances, access to finance can have the opposite effect, and actually create a demand for child labour. Research by the ILO's Social Finance Programme and 60Decibels yielded interesting findings about the impact and risk of child labour in microfinance.

  4. © CNBC Indonesia/Edward Ricardo 2023

    Press release

    A joint study of ILO and OJK reveals the urgent need for digital transformation in rural banks

    10 August 2023

    The ILO and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) launch key findings of their latest study revealing opportunities, challenges and gaps in the development and adaption of digital financial services in banking sector. The key findings support the acceleration of digital financial services for rural bank and sharia rural bank (BPR/BPRS) to better serve the SMEs.

  5. Document

    Call for proposals: study on financial services to wage workers in Nigeria

    04 August 2023

    The ILO is looking for a national consultant to support a study on financial services to wage workers in Nigeria, assessing their benefits, impacts and challenges for workers, employers, service providers and regulators. The deadline for submissions is 18 August 2023.

  6. Document

    Call for proposals: study on financial services to wage workers in Indonesia

    04 August 2023

    The ILO is looking for a national consultant to support a study on financial services to wage workers in Indonesia, assessing their benefits, impacts and challenges for workers, employers, service providers and regulators. The deadline for submissions is 18 August 2023.

  7. Project

    Improving the viability and value of inclusive insurance

    02 August 2023