financial inclusion Articles
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Right on the money: translating the disbursements learnings of yesterday to the government to person payments of tomorrow
Transforming the way money reaches citizens is a fundamental task for governments as they get to grips with the future of public services. At a Mastercard webinar, experts discussed why timely payments to the right people matter so much – with a focus on financial inclusion With the ever-increasing importance of government to person (G2P)…
All or nothing? Central bank digital currencies’ financial inclusion challenge
CBDCs are widely seen as having the potential to improve financial inclusion. Ian Hall reports on a webinar exploring technical, practical and public policy considerations Governments have growing interest in the possibilities of central bank-issued digital money (central bank digital currencies – CBDCs), which are live in a small but growing number of territories worldwide. The Bahamas…
Bank on it: how financial digital ID can boost security and inclusion
Few things are more important to banks and financial institutions than knowing that the person who opens an account is who they say they are. Identity checks are vital to, among other things, prevent criminals and terrorists from using financial products or services to store and move around their money, and ensure that people are…
Fintech in developing economies: paving the way for women’s financial inclusion
Driven by a surge of digital payments due to the pandemic, financial inclusion has increased all over the world. Yet, women are still more likely to be ‘unbanked’ than men. At a Global Government Fintech webinar, experts discussed how fintech can help female financial inclusion in the developing world and what numerous obstacles remain The Covid-19 pandemic…
Fintech’s global growth: governments race for a route map
Governments worldwide are increasingly enthused by fintech’s possibilities. But the sector’s breadth and quick-moving nature are among the reasons why public authorities’ activity can be tricky to track, according to experts at a Global Government Fintech webinar Governments are devoting growing attention to encouraging and regulating financial technology (‘fintech’), including the exploration and use of…
Governments look to fintech revolution to drive financial inclusion
Digital advances are providing governments with unprecedented opportunities to improve rates of financial inclusion through fintech-driven programmes and solutions. This was the view of senior state authority representatives from Colombia, India, Brazil and Azerbaijan during an international webinar exploring how fintech-driven innovation – which has accelerated worldwide during the global pandemic – is helping governments…
Panama Takes Action to Drive a Digitally Inclusive Recovery
Today, the Government of Panama has announced that it will join a growing group of nations in taking a strategic approach to digitization, launching a Digital Country Partnership in cooperation with Mastercard. This is a multi-pronged approach that aims to accelerate inclusive economic growth – a strategy key to driving recovery and enabling societies to…
Layers upon layers: how financial data paints a picture of the pandemic
Governments have found new sources of real-time financial data that give a clear view of COVID-19’s impact on industries, businesses and workers. At the 2020 Government Finance Summit, top officials from around the world dipped into this treasure trove for economic policymakers and service providers After the 2008 credit crunch, governments spent vast sums on…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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