MicroSave Consulting (MSC) is a boutique consulting firm that has, for 25 years, pushed the world towards meaningful financial, social, and economic inclusion. These podcast series are hosted by MSC for dedicated founders, start-ups, investors, and other stakeholders in the startup ecosystem. Through this bouquet of curated conversations around developments in the financial inclusion space, we offer insights and lessons based on our research and expertise.
In this podcast, Albert Bundi and Emma Odera from MSC discuss how to expand access to formal finance for young farmers in Kenya. Their conversation highlights young agripreneurs' real struggles and the innovative solutions that can reshape the future of youth agrifinance in Kenya.
MSC’s Community Toolkit for Locally-Led Adaptation offers stakeholders a structured, participatory process to assess climate risks and cocreate adaptation plans with local communities. It combines local knowledge with scientific data to map hazards, evaluate vulnerability, identify and prioritize adaptation options, and develop actionable, costed plans. We have designed the toolkit for local governments, civil society, and financial institutions. It builds grassroots ownership, strengthens institutions, and supports inclusive, climate-resilient development at the community level.
MSC’s IFSP adaptation toolkit equips inclusive financial service providers so they can assess climate risks within their MSME portfolios and design tailored, climate-responsive financial products. It also empowers MSMEs to use participatory tools and supply chain mapping to identify exposure and vulnerability and develop adaptation strategies. The toolkit enhances portfolio risk management, supports product innovation, and enables financial service providers to help drive MSME adaptation and long-term sustainability. Through the toolkit, MSMEs can also cocreate solutions to build their resilience.
A complex web of issues hinders women’s access to credit in Bangladesh. Among the most significant hurdles women entrepreneurs encounter are bureaucratic red tape and complex documentation requirements. Collateral requirements by formal institutions are another significant barrier. In a society where women rarely own assets, such as land or property due to gendered inheritance practices, these prerequisites further marginalize women in the credit system. Additionally, lengthy and bureaucratic loan procedures deter women, particularly those with limited literacy or exposure to formal banking systems. As a result, women entrepreneurs are forced to seek informal credit, despite the risks and higher interest rates.
Women’s barriers to credit access are not limited to structural challenges. They are also rooted in sociocultural norms. Patriarchal traditions often limit women’s mobility, decision-making power, and financial independence. This leaves them reliant on male family members for financial transactions. Even when women legally own businesses, they frequently require male co-signers for loans, which further perpetuates their dependency. Furthermore, gender bias within financial institutions paints women entrepreneurs as high-risk borrowers, which discourages them from designing tailored financial products for these women.
Policy implementation gaps also hinder efforts to improve women’s access to credit. For example, while the Bangladesh Bank mandatorily allocates 15% of credit portfolios to women entrepreneurs, weak enforcement has rendered it largely ineffective. Similarly, credit guarantee programs designed to facilitate collateral-free loans remain underutilized due to their poor implementation and low awareness among beneficiaries.
Although Bangladesh’s financial landscape is riddled with these problems, they are not insurmountable. Innovations in gender-intelligent banking have emerged as a potential way to break down these barriers. These include financial products and services designed specifically to meet women entrepreneurs’ needs. For example, Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) provides a small-ticket savings product combined with a secured overdraft facility so that women can access short-term, low-cost credit based on their savings history. This approach encourages consistent saving habits and reduces reliance on collateral.
Another key development is the digitization of financial services. Bank Asia’s digital loan application system reduced the need for physical branch visits and simplified documentation requirements. This initiative minimizes opportunity costs and makes credit more accessible, particularly for women in remote areas.
Gender-disaggregated data can also play a critical role to make financial products and services more inclusive. Banks can use the customers’ data to create gender-intelligent strategies to better understand and address women entrepreneurs’ needs. Such strategies can help create more inclusive financial products, services, and delivery channels that can ultimately promote their financial independence and nurture sustainable business growth.
Gender-intelligent banking is not about offering more products but rather about transforming the financial ecosystem from within to be more inclusive. An increase in women’s representation in leadership roles can play a critical role to shape policies better aligned with their needs.
The problem of women’s unequal access to credit is not unique to Bangladesh. As per the International Finance Corporation (IFC), globally, women-owned businesses face an enormous financing gap of about USD 1.5 trillion in the formal SME sector. This disparity highlights a substantial untapped market for banks to expand their SME loan portfolios by investing in women entrepreneurs. The global context makes the condition in Bangladesh even more significant. Bangladesh can witness tremendous economic growth through gender-intelligent banking practices, tailored financial products, digitized services, and capacity-building programs. At the same time, financial institutions can address sociocultural and institutional biases and policy gaps to work toward the global goal of gender equity and financial inclusion.
Bangladesh is at a pivotal moment where investments in gender-intelligent banking can contribute to sustainable economic growth, reduce gender disparities, and create a more inclusive financial ecosystem. As the country stands at the cusp of a major transformation, its present situation is a call for stakeholders across the globe to create an environment where women-led enterprises flourish and build a more prosperous and fairer society.
This article was first published on CNBC TV 18 on 21st May 2025.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new credit reporting guidelines aimed at improving the accuracy and timeliness of borrower information shared with credit bureaus. The Credit Information Reporting Directions, 2025, released this year, are designed to address issues in India’s credit assessment system. One of the key changes is the move to bi-monthly credit data updates. Lenders are now required to report borrower information twice a month—by the 7th and the 22nd. This reduces the lag in tracking repayments and helps curb overleveraging.
“Frequent updates reduce blind spots in credit data and ensure more informed lending,” said Shubha Bhanu, Lead, BFSI at MSC (MicroSave Consulting).
Previously, monthly reporting led to delays of up to 40 days, often leaving credit institutions with outdated borrower profiles. The revised timelines are expected to help lenders detect risks earlier and make better decisions.
Another major change is the standardisation of credit scores across all credit information companies (CICs). Scores will now follow a uniform range of 300 to 900, making it easier for both lenders and borrowers to interpret creditworthiness. The guidelines also streamline credit reports by linking borrower records to government-issued IDs such as PAN, passport, or voter ID. A single, consolidated report will now reflect all open and closed loans, defaults, legal actions, and coborrower or guarantor roles.
“These measures help eliminate fragmented data and provide a clearer picture of a borrower’s total liabilities,” Bhanu added.
Additionally, CICs can now share credit data with non-specified users—entities not traditionally allowed access—provided they secure borrower consent. This expansion in data sharing is balanced by strict privacy and security requirements. While the new norms may require significant tech and process upgrades for lenders, experts see them as a step toward a more transparent and responsible credit ecosystem.
In a small clinic in Mumbai, a doctor sees two patients back-to-back. The first is a severely underweight child stunted from years of malnutrition. The second is a 32-year-old man, obese and pre-diabetic. This stark contrast is a growing reality in India. While hunger remains a crisis, obesity is an equally urgent public health emergency. Yet, unlike diabetes or heart disease, obesity continues to be India’s silent epidemic—recognised but rarely confronted.
India ranks third globally in projected obesity-related economic losses after China and the US. Urban obesity rates range from 13 per cent to 50 per cent, and even in rural India, they hover between 8 per cent and 38 per cent. The proportion of overweight children rose 2.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent between recent national surveys (NFHS-4 to NFHS-5) (1). Obesity doesn’t stay solo for too long. It is often the precursor to many Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including diabetes. Between 1990 and 2016, India’s diabetes prevalence jumped by 64 per cent (2), as cases skyrocketed from 26 million to 65 million. This is just one of the many health issues that stem out of obesity.
Obesity costs India an estimated USD 23.2 billion (3) annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. If current trends continue unchecked, global obesity-related GDP losses could soar to USD 4 trillion (4) by 2035.
Despite these alarming numbers, India lacks a coordinated response to obesity. The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) (5) labels obesity as a risk factor but allocates little direct funding to combat it. Other nations have taken decisive action – New York (6) banned trans fats, and the UK (7) and US (8) introduced sugar taxes—but India’s policy measures remain weak and poorly enforced. The government’s Eat Right India (9) campaign has made some progress in raising awareness, but it stops short of regulating food companies that flood the market with ultra-processed, high-sugar, high-fat products.
Obesity care is also financially out of reach for most Indians. While Ayushman Bharat (10) covers major health risks, it does not include obesity treatment or weight management programs. Private insurance policies exclude obesity-related care unless linked to severe complications. This forces most Indians to delay intervention until it is too late.
India’s food environment does little to support healthy choices. Unhealthy, ultra-processed foods are aggressively marketed, especially to children. Meanwhile, fresh, nutritious food remains expensive and inaccessible to many.
For low-income populations, deep-rooted cultural perceptions that link higher body weight with prosperity add another layer of resistance to obesity prevention efforts. Even those who wish to make healthier choices are constrained by poor urban planning. Indian cities are designed for vehicles, not people. Pedestrian walkways are scarce, cycling infrastructure is almost nonexistent, and green spaces where people can exercise are shrinking daily.
To prevent obesity, India must implement strong fiscal policies that shape healthier consumer choices. Taxes on sugary drinks and subsidies for fruits and vegetables can make nutritious food more accessible and discourage excessive sugar intake. Restricting junk food marketing to children and strengthening school-based nutrition and physical education will help instill lifelong healthy habits. Additionally, urban infrastructure should be redesigned to encourage physical activity, with more pedestrian pathways, cycling tracks, and recreational spaces.
Beyond policies, public awareness and cross-sector collaboration are essential. Culturally sensitive campaigns in schools, workplaces, and mass media can reinforce healthy behaviors. Technology can support weight monitoring, virtual counseling, and digital health services. Meanwhile, health, education, and urban planning must align efforts to create environments that support active lifestyles. The private sector should also be engaged in food reformulation and improved labeling to empower consumers.
Obesity care must be integrated into primary healthcare for early diagnosis and treatment. Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres should offer BMI screenings and trained counseling. Establishing referral pathways for specialised care and expanding dietitians and bariatric surgeons will improve access. Finally, affordable treatments, regulated therapies, and evidence-based interventions are key to ensuring effective obesity management.
By 2050, a third of India’s population could be obese. Yet India still lacks a national obesity registry, and prevention remains an afterthought (11).
The real question is not whether we should act on obesity but why we have not already. Will the country wait until this crisis spirals out of control, or will it take decisive action now? This World Health Day, India must stop seeing obesity as a secondary issue and start treating it like the public health emergency it truly is.
References:
1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 2021. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019–21. https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/NFHS-5_Phase-II_0.pdf.
2. Pradeepa, R., and V. Mohan. 2021. “Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes in India. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology 69 (11): 2932–38. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_1627_21.
3. Okunogbe, A., R. Nugent, G. Spencer, J. Powis, J. Ralston, and J. Wilding. 2022. “Economic Impacts of Overweight and Obesity: Current and Future Estimates for 161 Countries. BMJ Global Health 7 (9): e009773. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009773.
4. Ng, Marie, et al. 2021. “Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Adult Overweight and Obesity, 1990–2021, with Forecasts to 2050: A Forecasting Study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet 405 (10481): 813–38.
5. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 2025. National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS).
6. Mello, Michelle M. 2009. “New York City’s War on Fat. New England Journal of Medicine 360 (19): 2015–20. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMhle0806121.
7. Rogers, N. T., S. Cummins, H. Forde, C. P. Jones, O. Mytton, H. Rutter, S. J. Sharp, D. Theis, M. White, and J. Adams. 2023. Associations between Trajectories of Obesity Prevalence in English Primary School Children and the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Surveillance Data. PLoS Medicine 20 (1): e1004160. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004160.
8. Jones-Smith, J. C., M. A. Knox, S. Chakrabarti, et al. 2024. Sweetened Beverage Tax Implementation and Change in Body Mass Index Among Children in Seattle. JAMA Network Open 7 (5): e2413644. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.13644.
9. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI). https://eatrightindia.gov.in.
10. National Health Authority, Government of India. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. https://abdm.gov.in/abdm-components.
11. Kerr, Jessica A., et al. 2021. Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity, 1990–2021, with Forecasts to 2050: A Forecasting Study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet 405 (10481): 785–812.
MicroSave Consulting (MSC) is a boutique consulting firm that has, for 25 years, pushed the world towards meaningful financial, social, and economic inclusion. These podcast series are hosted by MSC for dedicated founders, start-ups, investors, and other stakeholders in the startup ecosystem. Through this bouquet of curated conversations around developments in the financial inclusion space, we offer insights and lessons based on our research and expertise.
How can insurance transform how communities build climate resilience?
byMicroSave Consulting
In this episode, join Shirleen Regina Olalo and Vineet from MSC’s Banking, Financial, and Insurance services team. Hear from them as they explore how parametric and inclusive insurance solutions drive climate resilience for MSMEs in developing markets to ensure faster, smarter risk protection.
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