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Playbook: The Role of Financial Institutions in Responding to Domestic Financial Abuse

Financial abuse, a pervasive yet under recognized form of domestic abuse, involves the control or restriction of an individual's access to economic resources. This form of abuse can have long-term impacts on financial stability and well-being, persisting even after an individual leaves an abusive relationship. Despite its prevalence—affecting nearly all individuals who report domestic abuse—financial abuse remains insufficiently documented in terms of national rates and economic costs in the United States.

Financial institutions (FIs), due to their trusted role in individuals' financial lives, are uniquely positioned to identify and respond to domestic financial abuse. This playbook presents a strategic framework for FIs to support victim-survivors through four key workflows: fostering a supportive internal culture, preparing employees to recognize and respond to abuse, educating and supporting clients, and enhancing protective product features and partnerships. By adopting these practices, FIs can play a critical role in addressing domestic financial abuse, promoting financial inclusion, and helping victim-survivors regain economic control and security.

Grameen Foundation Male Engagement Evidence Brief

Grameen has conducted male engagement activities, including community-level and intra-household dialogues (IHDs), in the context of financial inclusion and other programming focused on reducing poverty and enhancing income generation of women in a range of settings across West Africa, Central America and Asia since 2014.

Typically, they are introduced in a phased approach following capacity-building in gender and inclusion with financial service providers (FSPs) or other local partners.

In our own assessments (some of them peer reviewed), we find that IHDs (introduced as a complement to other program activities) lead to improved agency of women to access and use financial services for enterprise growth, without fear of negative male backlash.

Households become more harmonious and cooperative.

In addition, by engaging men in groups with other couples, they are able to observe their peers’ willingness to change their attitudes and behaviors, which creates a ripple effect.

This brief will outline the global evidence base and share experiences of various Grameen projects deploying IHDs.

Grameen Foundation Refugee Finance Program Case Study

In 2019, we launched our Refugee Finance Program to improve the lives and livelihoods of forcibly displaced people and those living in refugee-hosting communities. Focused especially on women and youth, we have expanded access to formal financial services, enabling financial resilience for thousands. The following case study shares the impacts and lessons learned from our Refugee Finance program.

PCC Report Related to Grameen's Philippine Carabao Center EASIS

This study evaluates the KBGAN iHealth© and KBGAN iFeed© mobile apps designed for buffalo health and feeding management, particularly for agricultural extension professionals (AEPs) in selected Philippine municipalities. These apps aim to address challenges in buffalo management, such as limited access to veterinary expertise, personalized recommendations, organized data, communication channels, and difficulties in calculating ideal feed compositions and meeting the distinct needs of smallholder farmers and AEPs.

ESCÚCHAME: Economic Security for Honduran women entrepreneurs through Education and Male Engagement Final Evaluation Report

Reducing Barriers to Women's Economic Empowerment in El Salvador and Honduras Gender, Conflict, and Power Dynamics Training: Lessons Learned

Women Entrepreneurs in Northern Ghana Gain Access to Integrated Services via Agent Networks (WE GAIN) Project: Final Outcomes Evaluation

Reducing Barriers to Women’s Economic Empowerment in El Salvador and Honduras – Final Evaluation Report

Lessons Learned from the Integration of Gender-Based Violence Mitigation and Male Engagement Strategies for the Escúchame Project

Catalyzing Sustainable Change through Female Agent Networks: Grameen Foundation Evidence Summary

In pursuit of its mission to enable poor people, especially women, to create a world without poverty and hunger, Grameen Foundation is increasingly investing in female agent networks to expand access to DFS and non-financial services. This evidence summary provides an overview of the outcomes Grameen has measured through its support of female agents as a two-for-one strategy to achieve sustainable financial inclusion among unbanked populations and invest in the power of women.