Financial inclusion
Financial inclusion
UNHCR works to promote and expand financial inclusion for people forced to flee and the communities that host them.
Many refugees have limited or no access to banks and other mainstream financial services. This creates a major barrier to self-reliance and economic independence.
Without access to financial services, refugees often lack a safe place to save and receive money, face difficulties making or receiving payments, and have limited opportunities to build a financial history or access credit when eligible. As a result, they are unable to fully participate in the formal economy or build a stable future for themselves and their families.
What does UNHCR do?
UNHCR works to expand financial access and promote financial wellbeing for refugees and other people forced to flee by supporting access to affordable, appropriate, and responsibly delivered financial services. We also promote awareness of the business potential of serving refugees and work to address policy constraints that limit their access to financial services.
To create and foster an enabling financial inclusion environment, UNHCR has established partnerships with development finance institutions, impact investors, and financial service providers. Examples include:
- A first-of-its kind blended finance facility established in Uganda by UNHCR, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation.
- A joint IFC–UNHCR initiative that aims to mobilize the private sector to create jobs and expand access to financial services and business capital for refugees and host communities.
- UNHCR’s collaboration with Kiva, which leverages its microfinance crowdfunding platform and the Kiva Refugee Investment Fund (KRIF) to provide risk-tolerant capital to financial service providers serving refugees.
- The ILO training course “Making finance work for refugees and host communities,” developed under the PROSPECTS partnership, which targets managers of financial service providers currently serving—or considering serving—refugees and host communities, as well as financial education programmes for refugees and host communities.
Mapping the Regulatory Landscape for Financial Inclusion of Refugees and Asylum-Seekers: A Global Comparative Analysis
This analysis presents the findings of a global study on the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape financial inclusion for people forced to flee. Developed in partnership with DLA Piper International, the research examines whether refugees and asylum-seekers can legally and practically access bank accounts, SIM card registration, mobile money services, and digital wallets, and identifies key barriers and enabling factors across 79 countries.
The publication package includes a global summary of findings; five regional overviews with accompanying country-level analyses, including data on UNHCR cash assistance; and a Financial Inclusion Regulatory Dashboard. Together, these resources provide a comparative view of regulatory environments across regions and highlight opportunities to advance financial inclusion and support humanitarian cash assistance.