Cultivating financial resilience to combat labor trafficking in Africa

In southern Africa and elsewhere, high vulnerability to poverty and false promises of employment lure many youth from their homes into the hands of traffickers who exploit them through forced labor. A new project from the Center for Social Development (CSD) initiative on Financial Capability and Asset Building in Africa (FCAB Africa) focuses on reducing […]

Financial Capability and Asset Building: Innovations in Social Protection and Development

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Huang, J., Sun, S., Huseynli, A., Koomson, I., Chowa, G., Ssewamala, F., Sherraden, M. S., & Sherraden, M. (2023). Financial capability and asset building: innovations in social protection and development. In L. Patel, S. Plagerson, & I Chinyoka (Eds.), Handbook on social protection and social development in the global South (pp. 308–330). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800378421.00033

The Effectiveness of Financial Capability and Asset Building Interventions in Improving Youth’s Educational Well-Being: A Systematic Review

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Nyon, T., Appiah Kubi, J., Amoako, E. O., Koomson, I., Conklin, J. (2023). The effectiveness of financial capability and asset building interventions in improving youth’s educational well-being: A systematic review. Adolescent Research Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-023-00223-x

Policy, Practice, and Institutional Barriers to Financial Capability and Asset Building Related to Race (Racism) in the United States

Jones, J. L., Birkenmaier, J., Johnson, L., McClendon, G. G., Nam, Y., Huang, J., & Onifade, E. (2023). Policy, practice, and institutional barriers to financial capability and asset building related to race (racism) in the United States. In M. L. Teasley, M. S. Spencer, & M. Bartholomew (Eds.), Social work and the Grand Challenge of Ending Racism: Concepts, theory, and evidence based approaches (Chap. 21). Oxford University Press.

Special issue proposes a path to economic progress in Africa

Bringing together evidence from a diverse network of researchers and practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the March special issue of Global Social Welfare highlights the Center for Social Development’s focus on improving economic well-being for marginalized populations on the continent. The issue, “Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development,” was developed through the Financial Capability […]

Financial Capability

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Ansong, D. (2022, February 24). Financial capability. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work (Online ed.). https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1201

Building Financial Capability and Assets in America’s Families

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Jones, J. L., & Callahan, C. (2022). Building financial capability and assets in America’s families [Special issue introduction]. Families in Society, 103(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211066464

Preparing Social Workers to Improve People’s Finances

Sherraden, M. S. (2022, January). Preparing social workers to improve people’s finances (CSD Perspective No. 22-02). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/w45g-2b72

We Have Clean Water and Clean Air: Why Not Clean Finance, Too? A Vision for Inclusion and Equity

Huang, J., Sherraden, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2021). We have clean water and clean air: Why not clean finance, too? A vision for inclusion and equity. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 83–89). Federal Reserve Bank and Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-2.pdf

Human Service Professionals: A Ready Workforce for Financial Capability

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Jones, J. L. (2021). Human service professionals: A ready workforce for financial capability. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 193–199). Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis & Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-3.pdf

CSD and Partners Launch New Multinational Collaboration in Africa

Mobile phones have become commonplace in sub-Saharan Africa. There, as in other parts of the world, financial technology has proliferated with the expansion of digital access, opening new doors to financial products and services. But this emerging landscape requires financial acumen, and sound guidance can be hard to find.

On July 15, a multinational group of partners gathered virtually to mark the launch of Financial Capability and Asset Building in Africa (FCAB Africa), a new collaboration aimed at meeting these needs.

Reflections of a Central Bank Governor

Addison, E. (2021, July). Reflections of a central bank governor (CSD Perspective No. 21-18). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

FCAB Africa: Summary of Achievements as of July 2021

Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Summary of achievements as of July 2021 (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-13). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/j5rd-tr36

Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, Challenges, and Next Steps

Johnson, L., Sherraden, M. S., McClendon, G., Birkenmaier, J., Frey, J., Callahan, C., Huang, J., & Rothwell, D. (2021). Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, challenges, and next steps (CSD Conference Report No. 21-11). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/vnr6-ys64

Addressing the Burden of Education Financing in Low and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: The Role of Savings Accounts, Cash Transfers, and Other Income Sources

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Otchere, F., Koomson, I., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Addressing the burden of education financing in low and lower middle income countries: The role of savings accounts, cash transfers, and other income sources. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(4), 745–756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-021-09757-5

Toward Finance as a Public Good

Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Toward finance as a public good (CSD Working Paper No. 21-03). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/p8dd-p256

Financial Capability and Asset Building in Social and Economic Development: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Johnson, L., & Zou, L. (2020, November). Financial capability and asset building in social and economic development: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (CSD Perspective No. 20-27). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/vh44-x812

FCAB Online Modules

Social workers are all too familiar working with families and individuals who face financial vulnerability. The COVID-19 epidemic has only heightened the issue and expanded the number who are financially at risk due to economic and market forces. In response to a growing request for teaching resources, the Center for Social Development is developing a […]