Ep. 29: The Hidden Cost of Violence — How Finance Can Protect Women

The price of violence is economic. The solution can be, too. Behind many closed doors, violence is an everyday reality—especially for women in low-income countries. For millions, safety, autonomy, and economic participation are undermined long before they ever reach a bank branch or mobile wallet screen. 

In this Vault Release, we revisit a powerful conversation with Dr. Anita Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, Founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), whose work in Nigeria sits at the forefront of addressing gender-based violence with a survivor-centered lens. 

One in three women globally experience physical or sexual violence, most often from an intimate partner. In low-income countries, that number surges to nearly 50%. 

This episode explores a side of financial inclusion that is often invisible: 

• the financial scars of abuse 

• the role of economic violence—present in 99% of intimate partner violence cases 

• and how access to financial tools can be a lifeline to safety 

As the financial inclusion community works to build systems that genuinely serve women, the realities of violence cannot be ignored. This conversation reminds us that finance is not only a tool for prosperity—it can be a catalyst for safety, dignity, and long-term resilience. 

A vital listen for anyone shaping financial systems, gender policy, or women’s economic empowerment.