Financial inclusion is fundamental in reducing poverty, inequalities and for achieving inclusive growth. At this webinar, we will outline the important elements for financial inclusion and explore practices where competent authorities can reinforce financial inclusion and literacy. We will discuss how these institutions can further develop their capacities in these efforts, and look into the changing nature of financial services and their influence on financial inclusion. We will discuss financial innovation and its role in financial inclusion.

Promotion of greater inclusion goes hand in hand with greater financial literacy. In the following of the webinar, we will thus address the latter as a vital pillar towards a greater financial inclusion. We will see examples how competent authorities strive to promote financial education and establish trust. We will discuss their communication with the general public, how they approach education on financial matters, explain innovations and options, and also associated potential risks.

Connection with the Covid-19

We shall also address aspects of financial inclusion related to the observed and expected consequences of Covid-19. The Covid-19 crisis is revealing the importace of financial inclusion even more. As a consequence of the Great Lockdown, we see weakening of the global economy. The income inequality gap in the world is expected to widen. We observe countries with different government policies tackling the consequences, where inclusion is also crucial. Also, as remittances are facing a great decline, this consequently touching the most vulnerable population. This is especially important for countries with high dependency on them.

The webinar will start at 10:00 CET and will last approximately 1.5 hour. Participants will be encouraged raise questions and comments.

Faculty

The webinar will be delivered by speakers from the Bank of France, Bank of Slovenia and Bank of Albania.

• Mark Beguery, Director of Financial Education, Bank of France

Mark has been Director of Financial Education since 2018. Before, he was in the role of various manager positions – positions in the Bank’s network as well as Head of Office and Head of Prudential Control and Resolution Authority, particularly on the subjects of overindebtedness, public information and customer protection. Prior to Bank of France in 1999, he held an executive position at CIC Bank. He graduated at the Institute of Political Studies of Grenoble and the Institutes of Business Administration of Strasbourg and Dijon.

• Marija Žiher, Consultant Organizer, Public Relations, Bank of Slovenia

Marija came to Banka Slovenije in 2015 as Head of Secretariat in Analysis sector and a translator and assistant to the Chief Economist. In 2019, she took over the position of Consultant Organizer in Public Relations department, where she manages different fields. In the field of financial education, she organizes educational days for students and workshops for children as well as manages the on-line contact center for general public.

• Arlinda Koleniço, Head of Research and Publications Unit, Bank of Albania

Arlinda has been working for the Bank of Albania (BoA) for 14 years in different positions, dealing mainly with preparing/editing the Bank’s publications, creating and delivering financial education programs and projects, measuring and analyzing financial literacy levels in Albania, and building up the content of the Museum of BoA. She is also a coauthor of two 2 BoA’s working papers regarding financial literacy in Albania (2011 and 2015) and is working for the third measurement analysis.

• Valentina Semi, Head of Licensing, Policy and  Payment System Oversight Division, Bank of Albania

Before holding this position, Valentina worked in the Financial Market unit within the Monetary Policy department from 2005 to 2011.

The division is dealing with licensing and oversight of financial market infrastructures, including payment and securities settlement systems, central security depository and central counterparties as well as payment instruments and services as integral part of payment services. An important component of divisions’ work is to play a catalytic role in the area of the national payment system.

Valentina is also heading the secretariat of the National Payments System Committee chaired by the First Deputy Governor. She is also an active researcher and a coauthor of several studies in the area of monetary policy and payment systems.

• Stéphane Tourte, Director of Financial Inclusion, Bank of France
• Marie-Agnès De Cherade de Montbron, Deputy Director of Financial Inclusion, Bank of France

Target audience

Employees of central banks, ministries of finance, financial supervisory authorities and others involved in financial education and broadening access to finance or external communication to the public; employees involved in the development of financial market infrastructure.

Partners

This learning initiative was supported by: