Financial inclusion is now firmly established as a powerful tool to improve lives and strengthen development. Each year, the Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance—Queen Máxima of the Netherlands—publishes a report that looks at what financial inclusion has achieved and where it is going.

The report discusses the contribution SMEs have on the economy - half of total employment and a third of the GDP. However, their opportunity for growth is severely limited due to inequities in credit and financing. Suggestions include having a national strategy for financial inclusion and building stronger credit reporting and reforms.

This year's report lays out three priorities for action that could accelerate our momentum: ensuring development impact, promoting supportive policies for digital financial inclusion, and reaching neglected populations such as farmers, women, and small businesspeople.