Financial inclusion for sustainable development A/RES/74/205 and actions intended to ensure a policy and regulatory environment for the promotion of financial inclusion, and in this regard looks forward to their implementation; 3. Reaffirms its decision to give consideration, as appropriate, to financial inclusion in the follow-up and review framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in the follow-up process of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda; 4. Takes note of the consideration given to financial inclusion in the Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2019, 3 stresses that, while financial inclusion has improved in recent years, notably owing to the growth in mobile banking, significant gaps remain within and among developed and developing countries, and remains concerned that, globally, 1.7 billion people do not have access to formal financial services and that, despite increased account ownership among women, the financial inclusion gender gap remains; 5. Notes that mobile phones could continue to strengthen financial inclusion, and in this regard underlines the need for the necessary investments, including in infrastructure, such as reliable electricity and network connections, as well as in payment systems and other financial infrastructure, and encourages Member States to take policy actions in accordance with national circumstances and priorities; 6. Acknowledges the important role that national financial inclusion strategies can play in identifying and overcoming financing gaps and binding constraints, including the lack of access to finance for micro -, small and mediumsized enterprises, notes that at least 69 countries have adopted or are in the process of developing financial inclusion strategies, and in this regard encourages Member States to consider the convenience of adopting and pursuing national financial inclusion strategies and gender-responsive strategies, to end the structural barriers to women’s equal access to economic resources and to expand peer learning, experiencesharing and capacity-building among countries and regions in this respect; 7. Recognizes that digitally enabled innovation in the financial sector has contributed significantly to the rapid expansion of access to fina ncial services and financial inclusion, enabling progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and showing impacts across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as outlined in the Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2019, and supports concrete actions to advance digital financial inclusion and close digital divides, including the gender digital divide, across and within countries, while improving responsible digital financial practices and promoting regulatory responses, as appropriate, to pr otect consumers’ interests, financial integrity and system stability, which are mutually reinforcing and also enablers of greater financial inclusion; 8. Also recognizes the growing importance of financial technology actors and new instruments and platforms, including mobile banking and peer-to-peer platforms, which have enabled access to financial services for millions of people and provided channels for smaller companies to raise risk capital, as well as the potential of big data and artificial intelligence in this respect, encourages, in this context, Governments and regulatory agencies to review and adjust, as appropriate, legal and regulatory frameworks to cope with the risks and maximize the benefits associated with these new instruments, and invites countries to exchange experiences and promote peer learning in this area and further enhance capacity-building in this regard; 9. Acknowledges that, in the absence of strong financial consumer protection, the growth-enhancing benefits of expanded financial inclusion may be lost or severely undermined, and in this regard stresses the importance of scaled -up action to improve __________________ 3 19-22418 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.19.I.7. 3/4