How enabling developers can help drive financial inclusion

Developers can significantly impact financial inclusion by leveraging GitHub's tools and services to create solutions that provide access to essential financial products for underserved populations. Financial inclusion, as defined by the World Bank, involves providing affordable financial products like checking accounts and credit cards to over a billion unbanked people worldwide, many of whom are women, impoverished individuals, and those in rural areas. Open Finance, supported by banks such as NAB, uses APIs to securely connect banks, customers, and fintechs, facilitating data exchange and lowering barriers for those with limited access to traditional financial services. GitHub, as a global open-source platform used by 100 million developers, offers an ideal environment for innovation, collaboration, and the dissemination of open-source solutions that drive financial inclusion. By organizing hackathons, improving API documentation, and recognizing developers' contributions, GitHub enhances the developer experience and supports initiatives like the GitHub Sponsors program and GitHub for Startups, fostering a community that can globally address the challenges of financial exclusion.