Signature projects

Financial inclusion of people with disabilities in Indonesia

  • calendarAug 4, 2025
  • time 2 min

Indonesia has made progress in financial inclusion, yet persons with disabilities, particularly women, remain underserved. Koperasi Mitra Dhuafa (KOMIDA), one of the country’s largest microfinance institutions, serves over 800,000 low-income rural women, including those with disabilities, through its gender-focused, community-based model. To assess how well these services meet the needs of clients with disabilities, MSC conducted a study using a universal design approach and its Gender Centrality framework. In partnership with the Terala Foundation, MSC facilitated focus group discussions with KOMIDA staff, clients with disabilities, and non-client Persons with disabilities (PWDs) to explore accessibility, staff engagement, infrastructure, and support systems.

MSC provided end-to-end support for the assignment, from research design to execution. The team brought in-depth expertise in Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and safeguarding to develop a robust research framework. MSC led focus group discussions with KOMIDA staff, clients with disabilities, and non-client PWDs, and conducted product reviews to assess service inclusivity. The team also developed assessment indicators and led the data analysis process, generating actionable insights to help KOMIDA strengthen its disability-inclusive practices and service delivery. The research found that while KOMIDA has strong gender-responsive elements, PWDs still face significant access barriers. MSC delivered actionable policy recommendations to strengthen KOMIDA’s disability inclusion efforts.

MSC’s recommendations helped KOMIDA identify key areas to improve services for its 15,000 clients with disabilities across Indonesia. KOMIDA has begun applying these insights and is exploring a tailored strategy to better serve this segment. The impact of the research has also led to a second project phase, where MSC is supporting the development of inclusive financial products for persons with disabilities.

The project was commissioned by Opportunity International Australia (OIA).

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