Rakib Avi
@rakibavi.bsky.social
Husband and father. Former innovation & strategy lead at BRAC, one of the world's largest NGOs. Focused on scaling successful social innovations.
Digital finance is not a silver bullet, but it remains the most scalable path to meaningful financial inclusion. The Global Findex 2025 makes the case—what’s needed now is targeted, sustained policy action.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Digital finance is not a silver bullet, but it remains the most scalable path to meaningful financial inclusion. The Global Findex 2025 makes the case—what’s needed now is targeted, sustained policy action.
What works:
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
What works:
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust—particularly among women and rural populations.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust—particularly among women and rural populations.
The shift isn’t just about access—it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The shift isn’t just about access—it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. Still, regions like the Middle East and North Africa continue to lag, with gaps exceeding 10 percentage points.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. Still, regions like the Middle East and North Africa continue to lag, with gaps exceeding 10 percentage points.
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels—particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels—particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust -- particularly among women and rural populations.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust -- particularly among women and rural populations.
The shift isn’t just about access -- it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The shift isn’t just about access -- it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. This is progress -- but in some regions (e.g. MENA), the gap is still >10%.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. This is progress -- but in some regions (e.g. MENA), the gap is still >10%.
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels -- particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels -- particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
Bottom line: Investments in walkable neighborhoods are not just climate- or mobility-friendly.
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Bottom line: Investments in walkable neighborhoods are not just climate- or mobility-friendly.
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
Implication:
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Implication:
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
Equity alert: Rural and less walkable areas didn’t see these benefits. Many of them were also hit hardest by the virus. Walkability isn’t just an urban luxury -- it’s a public good with uneven access.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Equity alert: Rural and less walkable areas didn’t see these benefits. Many of them were also hit hardest by the virus. Walkability isn’t just an urban luxury -- it’s a public good with uneven access.
This isn’t just about sidewalks. It’s about community design that enables purposeful movement, informal social contact, and access to green/public spaces -- all of which buffer psychological stress.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This isn’t just about sidewalks. It’s about community design that enables purposeful movement, informal social contact, and access to green/public spaces -- all of which buffer psychological stress.
Mechanism matters:
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Mechanism matters:
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
The metric used? EPA’s Walkability Index, which includes street connectivity, access to transit, and mixed land use. The more walkable a neighborhood, the more mental resilience it showed.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The metric used? EPA’s Walkability Index, which includes street connectivity, access to transit, and mixed land use. The more walkable a neighborhood, the more mental resilience it showed.