All publications: social finance

Impact insurance

Public-private partnerships to strengthen smallholder resilience

Insights on how public-private partnerships can expand access to agricultural insurance for smallholder farmers and help them build resilience.

Impact insurance

Technical note – Improving distribution strategies in inclusive insurance

Practical guidance and actionable insights to help insurers build more effective and sustainable inclusive insurance distribution strategies.

Impact insurance

Improving distribution strategies in inclusive insurance

This paper explores how insurers can expand access to insurance for underserved and low-income populations. Drawing on insights from practitioners across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, it identifies the key barriers to effective...

Social Protection Coverage in Ethiopia A Fact-Finding Report Based on the ILO-Social Security Inquiry (SSI) Data Collection Tool

This fact-finding report provides a comprehensive baseline of the country's social protection schemes, expenditures, and institutional frameworks by utilizing the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Social Security Inquiry (SSI) data...

Operationalizing just transition finance – SIFEM's just transition contribution assessment

Development finance institutions are uniquely positioned to support a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies by directing capital towards climate solutions in markets where private finance remains scarce, while helping ensure...

SEWA’s journey towards climate resilience: Building climate resilience for informal women workers with parametric insurance and the Climate...

This paper explains SEWA’s multi-year efforts to improve the climate resilience of its members through an iterative process of design, implementation and learning. Through this process, SEWA has strived to balance technical soundness, member...

ILO Publication

Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Assessment for Youth in Kigali and Musanze, Rwanda

The ILO-led Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Assessment for Youth in Kigali and Musanze, Rwanda, developed with national partners and supported by Luxembourg, looks at what young digital entrepreneurs need to start, grow and sustain businesses....

De-risking agricultural finance in Tanzania: Development results of Sida’s guarantee to PASS on access to finance, financial sector...

This endline study assesses the development impact of the Sida Guarantee Agreement with the Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS) in Tanzania, implemented from 2017 to 2024. The US$20 million portfolio guarantee aimed to expand access to...

Strengthening MSME finance in Kosovo*: A baseline study of a Sida guarantee to KCGF to support women-led enterprises, export-oriented...

This baseline study assesses the initial conditions and early impacts of Sida's re-guarantee facility, implemented through the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund (KCGF) to expand access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises in Kosovo....

Financial services for workers: A short guide for factory managers in Cambodia

Developed with RISE, this guide helps factory managers support women and men workers in accessing formal financial services. It provides an overview of key financial services, practical steps for engaging with providers and tools to assess benefits...

Financial inclusion of refugees and host communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia: A PROSPECTS partnership with Shabelle Bank

This case study examines how the ILO PROSPECTS partnership with Shabelle Bank is expanding access to Shariah-compliant financial services for refugees and host communities in Ethiopia’s Somali region. By combining tailored working-capital financing,...

Technical note – Attaining and improving profitability and sustainability in inclusive insurance

Insurance plays a key role in protecting livelihoods and promoting decent work by helping individuals and businesses manage risk and avoid disruptions to productive employment. Yet many workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses remain underserved...

Technical note – The impact of inclusive insurance: A systematic review of the literature (2013 to 2024)

Key findings from a review of academic papers on inclusive insurance and its impact on individuals, households and small businesses.

List of financial education training materials

The ILO Global Programme on Financial Education supports disadvantaged and underserved populations in making informed financial choices and changing their financial behaviour for a better future. This page gives an overview of all financial...

Financing a just transition: State of play of the sustainable finance ecosystem in the Philippines

This report maps the Philippines’ low-carbon transition dynamics, focusing on the pathways of three key sectors (energy, transport, and agriculture), highlighting sector-specific social considerations and just transition-related financing needs. It...

Annual Report 2024

The Annual Report 2024 highlights the achievements of the Social Finance Programme over the past year. The report covers developments in Social Finance's three streams of work: financial inclusion, impact insurance and sustainable investing.

Research Brief

Barriers to the full digitization of wage payments in Chinese supply chains — A rapid assessment

While digital payments are the norm in China, some factories still pay wages in cash. This research explores the barriers to digital wage adoption, especially among older, less educated, and migrant workers. It finds that factory size, location, and...

Financial education for micro, small and informal businesses in the Solomon Islands – Trainee’s booklet

This trainee's booklet on financial education targets primarily micro, small and informal business owners of the Solomon Islands who wish to improve their digital money management. The booklet introduces basic knowledge, skills and tools related to...

Impact insurance

Attaining and improving profitability and sustainability in inclusive insurance

The purpose of inclusive insurance is to build the financial resilience of underserved market segments, such as small businesses, smallholder farmers, and low-income households. This goal can only be achieved if schemes are profitable or financially...

Impact insurance

The impact of inclusive insurance: A systematic review of the literature (2013 to 2024)

Financial inclusion professionals work on the premise that insurance can be one of the tools to build financial resilience and support social and economic development. This is done through the pooling of risk, relieving the insured from the full...