This study examines the development and trends in financial inclusion research between 2004 and 2023, with a focus on the trajectory of publication growth, key contributors (including influential authors, journals, and institutions), and dominant themes within the field. A systematic review and bibliometric analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. A total of 1,784 articles were identified from the Scopus database for inclusion. Analytical tools such as VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel were employed to explore publication patterns, citation networks, and thematic concentrations. The findings reveal a marked increase in financial inclusion research, with 2022 recording the highest output, contributing 473 publications. Among scholars, Ozili emerged as a leading author with significant influence in the domain. The Journal of Sustainability (Switzerland) was identified as the most prolific journal, publishing 173 relevant articles, while the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China, was found to be the most productive institution. Keyword analysis highlighted recurring themes and revealed underexplored areas, offering promising directions for future research. This comprehensive analysis not only provides insights into the past and current state of financial inclusion scholarship but also identifies gaps that warrant further academic investigation. By offering performance metrics and mapping the evolution of the field, the study serves as a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners seeking to understand emerging research trends and guide future inquiries.

This study investigates the harmonising potential of complex systems theory in non-financial reporting of sustainable finance practices within Zimbabwean commercial banks. The increasing prominence of sustainable finance in Zimbabwe can be attributed to the adoption of international frameworks such as the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, which have led to its integration into banks' non-financial reporting. Sustainable finance, however, is recognised as a wicked problem—an issue characterised by its complexity, involving numerous interacting agents, emergent properties, and the need for a holistic approach. Such problems cannot be adequately addressed through conventional financial theories, which are often insufficient to capture their complexity. Despite the existence of various sustainability reporting standards, a unified framework to harmonise non-financial reporting and enable comparability across banks is still lacking. Using content analysis, this research examines annual reports from 17 Zimbabwean commercial banks, analysing 136 reports spanning from 2016 to 2023. The findings suggest that most banks have adopted a weak sustainability approach, guided by complex systems theory, which enables some degree of harmonisation in reporting standards but ultimately compromises long-term sustainability. This weak approach has been found to encourage greenwashing practices, with policies and strategies that, while aligned with sustainability rhetoric, may perpetuate environmental and social harm. The study makes several key contributions: it provides empirical evidence on the current state of sustainable finance reporting in Zimbabwean banks, offers a theoretical framework for harmonising non-financial reporting using complex systems theory, and proposes the adoption of a stronger sustainability-oriented framework to ensure genuine, long-term sustainability outcomes.