How to Implement
Guidance
Enable DFSPs to rely on access points to affordably deliver financial services.
Relevant authorities should support, as needed, the ability for DFSPs to provide a range of financial services in traditional and non-traditional points of service or access points. Regulation defines the requirements for types of individuals or entities that can be an access point. DFSPs should be able to enter into agreements with third parties to provide services on their behalf (e.g., agent or kiosk banking) via commercially reasonable arrangements that extend the DFSP and Scheme value proposition without unnecessarily adding risk or cost.
Understand agent payment needs.
Agents commonly are the primary point of interaction for low-income end users. They typically serve multiple payment systems and the Scheme should ensure that their needs are understood. Agent environments can also vary widely in terms of electricity, internet, tools, and integration software with the DFSP they are serving.
Design for agent payment needs.
After cataloging the varied needs of agents as acceptors and originators of payments, ensure that Scheme technical requirements and rules support seamless payments to and from all types of end users.
Increase the number of women agents.
The Scheme works with DFSPs and the regulator(s) to increase the number of women agents, guided by regulatory goals or setting their own targets to ensure that a minimum number of women agents are available to support women and men end users.
Support familiar and proximate representatives.
DFSP branch staff and agents represent known, trusted, and well-trained entities in the eyes of women customers. This may mean hailing from the same community as the women customers or place local agents at nationally known and trusted access points (such as shops). Training of access points should include gender sensitization for men agents to empower them to better serve women.
Why It Matters
Widespread access points ensure users can easily transact and carry out other needed financial services, making the Inclusive IPS more useful.
Seeing More Clearly
Select a lens to learn the “why” this practice.
Women’s Inclusion
Many women end-users prefer to conduct digital payments in-person with proximate and familiar agents – and often with other women agents – to set up accounts and resolve payment issues. In person support from a trusted agent builds capability and confidence.
Tools
Design Guides
Dig into how to implement each of the practices.
Select Resources for Policymakers in Driving Increased Women Agent Networks
Description of existing guidance on increasing the number of women agents and a call to action for enabling financing to help women become agents.
Review Select Resources for Policymakers in Driving Increased Women Agent NetworksMarket Illustrations
Learn from design choices in action.
India’s Commitment to Increasing the Number of Women Agents Based on Strong Evidence Base
Country
India
Challenge
Many of the accounts opened through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana program were not actively being used, especially by women.
Outcome
Increasing the number of women business correspondents led to a rise in customer acquisition and the uptake of additional financial products.
Nigeria’s Dedicated Strategy on Leveraging Agent Networks for Women’s Financial Inclusion
Country
Nigeria
Challenge
In Nigeria, women remain significantly underrepresented in the formal financial system, both as users and as agents.
Outcome
Targeted intervention has led to a growing share of female agents and greater engagement of women in formal financial services.
Related Resources
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