2025年可持续发展目标年度评估报告（英）_45页_3mb

Financial Inclusion in the Arab Region: Analysis and Summary

Overview

The Arab region faces significant challenges in financial inclusion, with 197 million people (64% of adults) financially excluded in 2021, exceeding the global average of 24%. Key barriers include limited access to traditional and digital financial services, high exclusion rates in low- and middle-income countries, and barriers in conflict-affected areas. Financial literacy gaps and inconsistent policy implementation further hinder progress, while digital technologies offer opportunities for improvement.

Key Target Groups and Challenges

• Women: Only 29% of Arab women have a bank account or use mobile money, the lowest rate globally, with a 13-percentage-point gender gap. Policies often fail to consistently mainstream gender equality.
• Persons with Disabilities: Barriers include physical and digital inaccessibility, limited financial literacy, and discriminatory practices. Fintech solutions are underutilized and inaccessible for many.
• Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs): Only 14% have access to loans, compared to 29% globally. Challenges include high borrowing costs, informal operations, and socio-cultural barriers, particularly for women-led businesses.

Policy and Governance

Nine Arab countries have developed national financial inclusion strategies, typically led by central banks or ministries of finance, but implementation lacks adequate civil society involvement. Policies often address enabling factors but fall short in access and utilization, with limited focus on persons with disabilities. Common initiatives include de-risking measures, microfinance programs, and agent banking to reach underserved areas.

Levers for Financial Inclusion

• Financial Literacy: Crucial for overcoming barriers; programs target women, youth, and MSMEs, but monitoring varies by country.
• Fintech: Grows rapidly, with $1.2 billion in venture capital in 2023, but adoption is low (36% digital payments in 2021). Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are hubs, with regulatory sandboxes supporting innovation.
• Banking Initiatives: Financial institutions expand access through mobile banking, dedicated branches, and inclusive products (e.g., reduced fees for persons with disabilities). Progress in countries like Egypt shows potential but needs scaling.

Conclusion and Way Forward

Financial inclusion in the Arab region is hampered by gender gaps, intersecting vulnerabilities, and inconsistent data collection. To align with the 2030 Agenda, targeted interventions must enhance digital infrastructure, improve financial literacy, and foster regulatory reforms. Strengthening data collection and inclusive policies will enable sustainable progress toward equitable financial access.