The biggest challenges in scaling effective financial infrastructures that work for poor people often are not about technology. Instead, they often revolve around questions of ownership, governance, economics, regulation, and political economy. These challenges are not small, but when addressed effectively, a system can emerge that improves the value of financial services for poor people.
This paper is intended for policy makers and others who are interested in improving the digital financial infrastructure in their countries with the goal of advancing financial inclusion. It advocates for a scheme approach to infrastructure and describes some of the ways countries have tried to accelerate progress toward better systems through a holistic narrative for better “digital rails” in the country.