Topic portal
Social finance
Millions of people around the world are vulnerable and marginalized due to for example a lack of access to banking and insurance services. Traditional investment practices do not always adequately consider the social and environmental impact of financial decisions, further contributing to social inequality and environmental degradation.
The financial sector is an influential, yet underappreciated, player in the world of work. Investments, loans and insurance can be powerful drivers to create jobs, improve working conditions and enhance resilience.
The ILO engages with the financial sector to explore how it can contribute to decent work and social justice. Our engagement with the financial sector is three-fold, dealing with different sets of players in the financial sector: financial inclusion, impact insurance and sustainable investing.
Engagement with financial sector players
Financial inclusion
Impact insurance
Sustainable investing
Highlights
What is ESG and how is it related to the work of the ILO?
A guide to 'business and human rights' for institutional investors
The ILO's Think Impact Toolkit for guarantee instruments
News and articles
Financial inclusion
ILO at the European Microfinance Week 2024: Advancing Financial Inclusion for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities
Just transition
Emerging Insight: From a climate transition to a just transition
Highlighted publication
Social Finance 2023 Annual Report
Most recent publications
Aligning financial systems with a just transition - Recommendations for the 4th International Financing for Development Conference
Scaling up digital wages: Lessons and challenges from India’s enabling environment
Projects
Feasibility study and design of an impact bond to reduce child labour in Côte d’Ivoire
Developing an impact monitoring system for Sweden’s guarantee instrument
Thematic pages on social finance
Access to finance and formalization
Innovative finance
Inclusive finance for workers
Blending of financial and non-financial services
Finance and child labour
Gender and financial inclusion
Financial services to enhance resilience
Financing the Social and Solidarity Economy
Financial inclusion for refugees and host communities
Climate change and financing a just transition
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About the ILO's Social Finance Programme
Related topics
Cooperatives
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Multinational enterprises
Social and Solidarity Economy
Sustainable enterprises
Responsible business conduct