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The significance of strengthening economic growth and sustainable development through financial inclusion is critical for the Asia-Pacific region. Harnessing the advent of digital technology to enable financial inclusion is one of the most promising opportunities to bring millions of unserved and underserved people across the region into the formal financial sector. This is especially true for people who are living at the base of the economic pyramid (BoEP) and for women, who are disproportionately marginalized.

However, while the promise of digital finance is appealing, the introduction of digital services does not solve many of the root causes of financial exclusion and also creates new challenges for those at the BoEP. This policy guidebook aims to support the region’s policy makers and regulators to capitalize on the opportunity to harness digital technology as an effective means to advance financial inclusion and enhance the wellbeing of those at the BoEP, including women.

While there is an increase in support for investors and businesses to find one another, little is known on how to efficiently and effectively conduct this activity. This guide directly addresses this knowledge gap and serves as a two-part handbook: First, as an introduction on the value effective ‘Matchmaking’ offers, suggesting a typology and ways in which providers of technical assistance (TA) can effectively engage in matchmaking. And secondly, as a practical guidebook, offering a theory of change and a practical step-by-step framework on how to structure matchmaking as part of programmatic activities. Overall, this guide encourages TA providers to broaden the application of matchmaking and to adopt a shift in perspective from conventional matchmaking activities.