Guillaume Gnankou founded Gnank Inspiration, in the Abidjan neighborhood of M'pouto in 2017. Today, Miss Gnankou has grown that business to include one full-time employee and another part-time, two stalls, and offers the company's services online as well as with home deliveries through external service providers. Advans, Côte d’Ivoire’s third largest microfinance institution (MFI) with a focus on digitization, provided her an opportunity to access formal financial services and build up assets.
Client Stories
In Mexico, a Convenience Store Makes Finance Easy
María Teresa Gaytán López met the Special Advocate when she was visiting an OXXO branch in Mexico City to open her first account.
Care for a soda with that savings account?
For millions of low-income customers throughout Mexico, OXXO corner markets are a… Read more
November 27, 2017
Nigeria's Economic Future Is in Its Hands
The Special Advocate's column on mobile money in Nigeria appeared in three Nigerian papers at the start of her 2017 country visit.
By H.M. Read more
October 31, 2017
Cultivating Solutions for Farmers
Transforming agriculture can require more than financing. Thanks to technical assistance, business training, market access, and financing, Dinh Xuan Toan has been able to multiply his income significantly, but the process is complex. Photo credit: UNSGSA/Robin… Read more
October 10, 2017
Blog: Four Takeaways from the Fintech and Financial Inclusion Roundtable
The UNSGSA and DNB Governor Klaas Knot hosted fintech innovators and regulators to explore how fintech can thrive and further financial inclusion.
By David Symington and Eric Duflos
The Special Advocate and Governor Klaas Knot of the De Nederlandsche Bank… Read more
July 11, 2017
Wow! A Human-Centered Success Story
In Indonesia, Susanti’s ability to save and pay for her daughter’s schooling has been transformed by a digital financial product created using a human-centered design process.
When development experts think about impact, they think about people like Susanti… Read more
July 10, 2017
Blog: Viet Nam at a Crossroads for Financial Inclusion
By Eric Duflos
Earlier this month I accompanied the UNSGSA, Queen Máxima, on a visit to Viet Nam. My first trip there took place 20 years ago. At that time the country was considered poor; the largest urban centers were still full of bicycles and relatively few cars. Poverty is now down to six… Read more
July 7, 2017
Blog: Checking In with Pakistan
Pakistan's Finance Minister Dar talked with the Special Advocate by video during the country's National Financial Inclusion Council meeting, April 2017.
Special Advocate Hears of Progress, Challenges from Pakistan’s Financial Inclusion Council
By Eric… Read more
April 21, 2017
Studying Sucess: In Pakistan, Financial Education and Business Training Transform Lives
Pakistan's Kashf Foundation, which the Special Advocate visited during her trip to Pakistan in 2015, provides small businesswomen with financial education and business training to help build their success. Photo credit: Kashf Foundation
Finding your way as… Read more
November 15, 2016
For Indonesia, Technology Holds a Key to Financial Inclusion
The Special Advocate's op-ed on financial inclusion in Indonesia appeared Aug. 29, 2016.
By H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (published in the Jakarta Post, 29 August 2016, leading up the the Special Advocate's visit to Indonesia, 30 Aug.-1 September)… Read more
August 29, 2016
Stitching a Thread into Bangladesh's Economy
Jharna Islam has built a thriving small business, and plans to expand further.
In the village of Dattopara, north of Dhaka, a businesswoman named Jharna Islam stands in her workshop before racks of clothing—deep red saris threaded in gold, pink and blue… Read more
June 15, 2016
In Bangladesh, Bringing Financial Inclusion to Rural Doorsteps
In Rajbari, Nilima (far right) checked on her mobile money account after a visit to the bKash agent. Her friend Farzana (left) came with her to open an account, accompanied by Nilima's mother. Photo credit: Ismail Ferdous/UNSGSA
A Visit to Rajbari’s Access… Read more
March 22, 2016
Financial Inclusion: More Than Money
This op-ed column was published 18 November 2015 in the Bangladeshi papers The Daily Star (in English) and Prothom Alo (in Bengali) during the Special Advocate's Bangladesh country visit. Read more
November 17, 2015
