To achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction, any plan for financial inclusion must include the informal sector. 

This Guideline Note discusses how policymakers and practitioners can engage with the informal sector to increase its access to formal finance, which might not immediately result in formalization altogether but may eventually incentivize it. 

Based on interviews with key informants in seven countries, this Guideline Note presents real-world experiences to allow the community of policymakers and practitioners to learn from developing and emerging economies.