联合国西亚经济社会委员会-2025年可持续发展目标年度回顾_阿拉伯地区的金融普惠（英）_45页_3mb

Report Overview: The ESCWA Annual SDG Review 2025 examines financial inclusion in the Arab region through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting challenges and opportunities. It calls for inclusive policies and partnerships to achieve equitable access and utilization of financial services.

Current State of Financial Inclusion:

• Exclusion Rates: In 2021, 64% of Arab adults (197 million people) were financially excluded, significantly higher than the global average of 24%.
• Intra-regional Variation: Exclusion is worse in low-income countries (81%) and fragile/conflict-affected states (79%), though high-income countries show better rates (23%).
• Gender Disparities: Only 29% of women had bank accounts or used mobile money, compared to 74% globally, with a persisting 13-percentage-point gap in the region.
• Other Vulnerable Groups: Persons with disabilities face physical and digital barriers, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) see low loan access (14% in the region).

Policy and Governance:

• National Strategies: Nine Arab countries have developed financial inclusion strategies, though governance often lacks civil society input. Women are a target group in policies, but gender mainstreaming is inconsistent.
• Regulatory Actions: Central banks and regulators issue guidelines for accessibility, but implementation gaps exist. Examples include Egypt’s roadmap and Jordan’s diagnostic studies.
• Regional Initiatives: Collaborations through organizations like the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and Arab Monetary Fund aim to build capacity, though many countries lack comprehensive data.

Role of Financial Institutions:

• Access and Products: Banks in high-income countries lead in leveraging digital solutions, but traditional services lag in accessibility. Initiatives include mobile banking apps, agent banking, and tailored products for underserved groups.
• Financial Literacy: Banks promote education through partnerships, but outcomes vary. Low literacy (e.g., <40% can use accounts without assistance) hinders inclusion, requiring targeted programs.

Opportunities and Challenges:

• Fintech and Innovation: Fintech investment exceeds $1.2B in 2023, yet digital payment rates (36% in 2021) lag behind global averages. Regulatory sandboxes support innovation, but accessibility issues (e.g., in Saudi Arabia) persist.
• Key Levers: Fintech, financial literacy, and inclusive policies can accelerate inclusion. Data gaps and mismatched social norms exacerbate challenges for women, persons with disabilities, and MSMEs.
• Conclusions: Strengthening national strategies, enhancing data collection, and fostering public-private partnerships are critical. ESCWA advocates for prioritizing financial inclusion as an SDG enabler.

SDG Alignment: Financial inclusion is integral to SDGs (e.g., SDG 1, 5, 8), empowering marginalized groups and fostering sustainable development. Addressing gaps requires multi-stakeholder action to ensure equitable access.