Uncover the Barriers to Digital Financial Inclusion

Identify the root causes hindering progress. Gain the skills to diagnose and address the key constraints.

About the Course

Key Features and Benefits

Designed for policymakers, researchers, educators, students, and anyone interested in financial inclusion, this course empowers you to diagnose the root causes of low digital financial inclusion.

Self-Paced & Free

Complete the course at your convenience, on your schedule. This course is completely free and open to all.

Relevant for a Wide Audience

Designed to benefit policymakers, researchers, educators, students, and anyone interested in understanding and addressing digital financial inclusion challenges

Data-Driven Diagnosis

Utilize global databases and indicators to pinpoint the specific factor preventing digital financial inclusion in your context.

Common Questions

The Decision Tree methodology is a systematic, data-driven approach to identify the “binding constraint” that hinders digital financial inclusion in a specific country. It involves analyzing various factors on both the supply and demand sides of the market, using a structured framework to pinpoint the most critical barrier preventing progress.

The binding constraint is the single most critical barrier preventing progress in digital financial inclusion. Identifying it allows policymakers to focus resources and efforts on the most impactful interventions, avoiding wasted resources on non-binding issues

The Decision Tree offers a systematic, data-driven framework to diagnose the root causes of low inclusion. It helps prioritize actions and tailor solutions to the specific context of each country, unlike more general approaches.

The course offers a focused exploration of the Decision Tree methodology, primarily using the Digital Payments tree as a practical example. The broader field of financial inclusion encompasses various factors, and the course prioritizes depth over breadth. The goal is to equip you with a strong understanding of the Decision Tree approach, which you can then adapt and apply to other areas like savings, credit, and insurance. By mastering the core methodology, you’ll gain the skills to analyze these additional factors independently after completing the course

The course utilizes global databases like Findex and the Global FICP Survey, but also encourages the use of local data and information to gain a comprehensive understanding of your country’s situation..

The primary focus is on identifying the binding constraint. However, by understanding the root cause, you’ll be better equipped to design and implement effective policies and interventions that promote financial inclusion.

The course is designed to be accessible to individuals with varying levels of economic expertise, including policymakers, researchers, educators, and students. It provides clear explanations of key concepts and step-by-step guidance through the data analysis process, ensuring that participants from diverse backgrounds can fully engage with the material.

The time commitment for the course is flexible and depends on your learning goals.

The theoretical component, which explains the Decision Tree methodology and how to conduct the diagnosis, requires approximately 20 hours to complete.
The practical part, where you apply the methodology to a specific country using global databases and local information, is optional but highly recommended for a deeper understanding. Each practical task typically takes 2–3 hours to complete if all the necessary data is available in the provided databases. However, this time may increase if you need to gather additional local data.

You have the freedom to tailor your learning experience to fit your schedule and focus on the areas most relevant to you.

Yes, upon successful completion of the mandatory components of the course (excluding the optional practical tasks), you will receive a certificate of participation from the Center for Global Development recognizing your achievement. This certificate reflects your engagement with the core content and your commitment to understanding digital financial inclusion.

The course equips you with the skills to conduct a thorough diagnosis of your country’s financial inclusion landscape. Whether you are a policymaker designing targeted policies, a researcher conducting in-depth analyses, an educator teaching financial inclusion concepts, or a student exploring the field, the tools and methodologies provided in this course can be adapted to suit your professional or academic goals.

Yes, you will have continued access to the course materials even after completing the course. This allows you to revisit the content, refresh your knowledge, and continue your learning journey at your own pace.