This Policy Brief is divided in 3 parts. Part I provides an overview of current and anticipated trends in energy poverty and their impact on development. This part evidences the magnitude of energy poverty challenge vis a vis public resources and ODA, but also the significant opportunities related to emerging clean energy solutions. Part II discusses some of the key financial and non-financial challenges related to financing clean energy access for the poor. It highlights the critical contribution that MFIs can play in fostering clean en- ergy access, but also the need to address wider non-financial barriers, market and government failures that prevent clean energy uptake; lastly, Part III presents the most defining characteristics of CleanStart, an in- novative UNCDF-UNDP Program aimed at increasing poor households and micro-enterprises access to clean energy by addressing financial and non-financial challenges, supporting microfinance and the development of enabling environments for clean energy financing.
Research and Publications
Around the world
Around the world
Around the world
June 20, 2012
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
Financing Energy Access for the Poor
Policy Brief
June 1, 2012
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
Aperçus du programme youthstart de l’uncdf
Étant donné l’accroissement du nombre de jeunes au sein des pays en voie de développement, les hauts niveaux de chômage et les possibilités économiques limitées dont dispose la jeunesse, les gouvernements cherchent de plus en plus des solutions pour aider les jeunes à réaliser leur plein potentiel économique. Dans ce document se trouvent des recommandations dont les législateurs et autorités compétentes, devraient tenir compte en ce qui concerne chacun des obstacles empêchant les jeunes d’accéder aux services financiers.
June 1, 2012
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
Policy Opportunities and Constraints to Access Youth Financial Services
Insights from UNCDF's Youthstart Programme
Given the increasing youth population in developing countries, the high levels of youth unemployment and limited economic opportunities for youth, governments are increasingly looking for proactive approaches to help youth realize their full economic potential. Increased access to financial services and increased financial capability to use those services effectively to invest in their education, enterprises, and futures may provide that beacon. Yet youth face many barriers in accessing financial services, including restrictions in the legal and regulatory environment, inappropriate and inaccessible products and services and low financial capability. The public policy opportunity—and imperative—is evident.
September 1, 2011
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
À l’écoute des Jeunes
Conclusions et recommandations sur neuf pays d’Afrique subsaharienne de l’étude de marché portant sur la conception de services financiers à destination des jeunes.
September 1, 2011
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
Listening To Youth
Market Research To Design Financial And Non-financial Services For Youth In Sub-saharan Africa
This report pulls together key findings and recommendations from the market research conducted by the 18 FSPs across 9 countries that participated in Phase I of YouthStart.
January 1, 2011
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
G2P: Expanding Financial Inclusion in the Pacific Report
Fiji’s Transfer of Social Welfare Recipients to a Savings-linked Electronic Payment System
The G2P report focuses on the implementation of G2P (government-to-persons) projects as a mechanism to enhance financial inclusion, as well as a way to provide cost and efficiency savings both to government and to social welfare recipients.
January 1, 2011
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
G2P: Accroitre l'inclusion financiere dans le rapport du pacifique
Le transfert des bénéficiaires de l'assistance sociale au Fiji à un système d'épargne lié au paiement électronique
Le rapport met l'accent sur la mise en œuvre du projet G2P (de gouvernement à personnes) en tant que mécanisme permettant de renforcer l'inclusion financière, ainsi qu’un moyen pour assurer la réduction des couts et l'efficacité de l’épargne à la fois au gouvernement et aux allocataires d’aide sociale.
January 1, 2010
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
Credit Unions and Cooperatives in Fiji
A missed opportunity for financial inclusion
This report scrutinizes the sustainability of operations of five large member-based financial institutions in Fiji and their potential to contribute to financial inclusion. It reveals that all these institutions have been coping with difficulties resulting from inflexible regulations, a challenging economy, and ineffective governance and management structures. At the same time, these four credit unions and one credit and thrift co-operative have continue to operate and serve members while the majority of financial co-operatives have failed. The report concludes by providing options for these institutions to better serve members and others and in doing so become instruments of financial inclusion.
January 1, 2010
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
In Search of Sustainability
The Provision of Rural Financial Services in Solomon Islands
This report comments on all levels of the financial ecosystem in Solomon Islands, with a particular focus on the micro-level, specifically the retail financial services being provided in rural areas. It begins with a brief history of rural finance in Solomon Islands and then outlines the current situation.
January 1, 2010
Practice Area: Inclusive Finance
Financial Capability, Financial Competence and Wellbeing in Rural Fijian Households
This quantitative research of rural Fijian households looks at how financial literacy, particularly when coupled with access to a savings account, leads to improved household finances and well-being. Some interesting findings around the role of women and better financial management skills of women suggest that financial literacy programmes for women can have greater impact than those for men. The report also includes evidence that financial priorities shift such that educated households invest more in their families and business and relatively less on community obligations.