Breaking barriers: A study on female cash-in cash-out (CICO) agents and their potential to drive financial inclusion

• by Mitali, Gayatri Pandey, Neha Mallick, Brenda Oyugi, Shweta Menon and Gregory Ilukwe
• Mar 21, 2025
• 1 min
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The study highlights the critical role of female cash-in cash-out (CICO) agents in financial inclusion, outlines key barriers they face, and offers strategies to support them across their business lifecycle.

This study explores the critical role female cash-in cash-out (CICO) agents play to advance financial inclusion across nine countries. It identifies systemic barriers that these agents grapple with, such as social norms, limited financial support, and safety concerns. The study provides actionable strategies to improve the recruitment, retention, and performance of female agents through a lifecycle approach to strengthen digital ecosystems.