Next week, November 1–4, 2021, is Financial Inclusion Week and is an opportunity for all of us to participate in promoting prosperity. Getting more people into the financial system will help people build better lives for themselves and their families while assisting to overcome systemic challenges such as gender inequality in financial services, climate change, and data risks.
This year, Financial Inclusion Week will host a virtual event, allowing participants to access events and engage with other guests from around the world. You’ll be able to customize your profile, create a personal schedule of the events you want to attend virtually, chat with other attendees, ask the speakers questions, and answer polls created by the organizers or speakers.
Financial Inclusion Week 2021 agenda
The theme for this year is Promoting Prosperity in an Era of Uncertainty.
COVID-19 has affected us all. But low-income households and small businesses have borne the brunt of the pandemic’s economic impact. As the Center for Financial Inclusion, the organization powering Financial Inclusion Week, states:
“Millions are worse off, though, and we are at a key inflection point. It’s up to us as a global financial inclusion community to have the right conversations to spur actions needed to confront the biggest challenges preventing financial inclusion.”
Fortunately, there have also been positive developments that might be able to make a significant difference. Fintech innovations have resulted in the rapid acceleration of digitalization of payments, which promises to decrease costs, improve services and increase financial inclusion. One example is in government-to-person payments, which in many cases can identify recipients and disburse payments faster and safer than ever before.
There will be 15 global plenary sessions, 11 regional plenaries (focused on Africa, Asia, and Latin America), 17 parallel live sessions, four networking meet-ups, and over 50 on-demand sessions.
Some of the sessions include (all times listed in UTC):
Chasing Risks: Keeping Up With the Evolving Consumer Challenges in Inclusive Finance
Monday, November 1, 2021, 3–4 p.m.
Inclusive Finance: The Role of Fintechs and Their Challenges on Innovating for the Low- and Moderate-income Segments
Monday, November 1, 2021, 11–12 p.m.
Can the Business Models of Fintechs Close the Gender Gap?
Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 11–12 p.m.
Risks, Harms, and Opportunities — How Can Data and Data-driven Technologies Impact Financial Inclusion Efforts in Africa?
Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 9–10 a.m.
The Pivotal Role of Mobile Money: Driving Inclusion and Resilience
Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 10–11 a.m.
Banking as Lego — The Implications of Modular and Embedded Financial Services
Thursday, November 4, 2021, 11–12 p.m.
It’s important to note that many fintech developments are originating in developing countries. Consider that Africa is the largest adopter of mobile money transfers, accounting for approximately 70% of these transactions.
For those who want to be at the forefront of fintech, understanding financial the opportunities and challenges of financial inclusion is crucial. As the Banking as Lego session suggests, “these developments are bringing about a fundamental shift in the structure and workings of the financial sector that will over time have profound implications for how financial services are produced and consumed.”
We encourage all fintech professionals and financial inclusion supporters to register, participate and help promote prosperity for all.
