Poverty remains largely a rural problem. Globally, about 1.2 billion people live on less than US$1.25 a day. About 870 million people suffer from hunger. And 76 per cent of the world’s very poor people live in rural areas. Most of them are excluded from the formal financial system.

An inclusive financial system is part of the essential infrastructure in any country. A cross cutting issue, it is an enabler and accelerator of food security, nutrition, and rural development. An inclusive financial system is an integral part of any sustainable solution to these challenges.

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