An inclusive financial sector, one that serves all equally, needs more than good intentions and words. It needs data, direction, and accountability to help it track the real progress being made and the gaps that remain in making sure that all have equal access to finance. The financial sector needs women not just as customers but also decision-makers, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of finance. Recent moves show that Ethiopia is taking bold steps to turn that vision into reality.
The Ethiopia Finance Forum 2025 saw the unveiling of the Women’s Financial Inclusion Scorecard, a tool developed by the National Bank of Ethiopia in partnership with the World Bank’s Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL). This scorecard is a landmark step toward ensuring inclusive finance, designed to help financial institutions assess and report on key indicators of women’s inclusion within their structure- ranging from internal indicators such as leadership and employment to external indicators like product offerings, outreach, and innovation.
The Scorecard offers a data-driven, transparent framework that promotes institutional learning, supports regulatory dialogue, and fosters evidence-based decision-making for financial institutions. Women’s increased access to finance and representation in financial institution leadership are one of the major targets of Ethiopia’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy II (2021–2025), reinforcing the country’s broader commitment to bridging gender gaps in financial inclusion.
It is important to note that this tool is not intended as a compliance mechanism. Instead, it acts as a shared learning platform where institutions can benchmark their progress, learn from top performers, and improve through collaboration and intentional efforts rather than penalties.
Early results from the Scorecard’s inaugural reporting showed promising progress, but also signal the need for deeper integration of gender inclusion within core banking systems and culture. The National Bank of Ethiopia has further exclaimed its commitment to using the Scorecard to guide regulatory reform, facilitate peer learning, provide technical assistance, and monitor national goals.
As a network dedicated to amplifying women’s voices in finance, NEWFin celebrates this transformative milestone. The Scorecard is expected to support public policy to drive sector-wide change. With continued collaboration between regulators and financial institutions, Ethiopia’s financial sector can unlock the full potential of women as leaders, clients, and innovators in finance.
NEWFin continues to strive towards building a more equitable financial sector – one that offers equal opportunities for women and drives inclusive economic growth across the country.
