Md. Asadul Hoque1
1 Business and Management Department, Tishk International University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Email: asadul.hoque@tiu.edu.iq
DOI: 10.23918/ICABEP2025p106
Abstract:
Inclusive green finance aims to leverage financial inclusion for reducing the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, and to boost resilience against these problems. The main aim of gender-inclusive finance is to close the worldwide gap in financial access between genders by improving women’s ability to access and use high-quality, reasonably priced financial services. Women’s involvement in SAARC’s environmental and climatic policymaking is restricted by social norms, financial rules, and other obstacles. In countries with limited opportunities, central banks and financial regulators face challenges in developing gender-inclusive financial policies to boost women’s ability to cope with environmental degradation and climate change. This study is an exploratory qualitative in nature that was conducted based on secondary analysis research or Secondary Data Analysis (SDA). Data were collected from central banks and financial institutions of eight SAARC countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, and Afghanistan. The study investigated existing policies and practices of central banks and financial regulators in SAARC nations, with the goal of bolstering resilience to the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation by incorporating Gender Inclusive Finance and Inclusive Green Finance into the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). The study used the conceptual framework of 4Ps (e.g., promotion, provision, protection & prevention) of inclusive green finance and gender inclusive finance. This study contributed to examining the integration of IGF and GFI into NFIS assessments to provide a more thorough approach to financial inclusion. The study also contributed to examining the level of integration of inclusive green finance and gender inclusive finance into NFIS to support financial institutions in building resilience against the negative impacts of climate change in SAARC countries. The research also helped explore strategies for enhancing climate change resilience in SAARC countries, with the intention of achieving sustainable development goals.
Keywords: Inclusive Green finance; Gender Inclusive Finance; Financial Inclusion; SAARC countries