From board updates to inspiring stories from remote villages in Nepal and Cambodia - and the strength of community in the Kimberly - this edition looks at the change that happens when women can learn, invest and lead.

Meet our leaders….Bénigne de Parc, Good Return’s Program Director

Meet our leaders….Anvesha Punjani, Good Return’s Program Impact and Effectiveness Manager

Meet our leaders….Nirri Shah, Good Return’s Program Development and Financial Capability Manager

Meet our leaders….Robila Agha, Good Return’s Inclusive Finance Program Manager

Good Return has partnered with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) since 2015, building financial capability for Cambodians for over a decade.

Through extensive field research, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews, Good Return designed and developed a financial capability curriculum for social assistance recipients in Cambodia. The goal was to help this cash-reliant and marginalised group build the skills and behaviours needed to transition confidently to digital banking.

GSMA’s Rishi Raithatha highlights the vital role of smartphone access and the need for digital financial literacy to help marginalised communities participate confidently in the digital economy.

Shane Nichols, Good Return CEO, shares his insights on the next exciting chapter for the organisation.

The latest World Bank Global Findex Database 2025 report highlights that there has been progress in financial inclusion however, many countries are still falling behind. Clay shares “without access to fair and affordable financial services, people remain vulnerable to predatory lenders, economic shocks, and exclusion from opportunity.”

Fran Mayall, Good Return’s Head of Marketing and Communications, shares her personal experience being part of the Maganda Makers Business Club camp in Lombadina.

The Deadly Sisters Awards celebrate the extraordinary entrepreneurs in the Maganda Makers Business Club for Kimberley Indigenous Women.

Diana' Tjoeng, Good Return Head of Asia & Impact Investments, shares her thoughts on how social and financial inclusion for women has a profound effect not only on the women themselves, but on their entire communities.

Cerise+SPTF and Good Return are passionate about creating a more inclusive finance system, to enable improved livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable clients. We work together to embed positive social goals into the products, services, and customer engagement activities of financial institutions in the region.

Read about a “Day in the life of” a Field Support Officer (FSO), Good Return’s overseas volunteer program which has created memories for over 40 former participants who have worked on gender equality and financial literacy across the region.

Our recently updated GEDSI policy is guided by some key principles.

Amid growing challenges in international development, Good Return is stepping up with bold action and proven impact. This newsletter marks launch our second Impact Investment Fund—an innovative solution to address urgent regional issues. We also highlight a partnership in Cambodia that is helping us reach vulnerable women and build their financial skills and confidence.

Good Return recently celebrated the win of the Impact Investment Award with their inaugural Impact Investment Fund.

In this era of remote work, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) teams often find themselves managing projects from a distance - constrained by limited budgets, travel restrictions, and the sheer scale of operations. But being on the ground or building your local team’s capabilities can be key to effectively managing M&E. Here are some key myths for effectively managing M&E from a distance.

When vulnerable individuals are excluded from the financial system, they lose the ability to shield themselves against life’s unexpected twists. Benigne du Parc delves into the transformative power of building financial skills and expanding access to banking services, showing how these tools can empower families to face challenges with confidence and resilience.