Financial Inclusion Unlocked

Consumer protection is fast becoming one of the defining challenges of the mobile money era. From fraud and impersonation scams to opaque fees and inadequate recourse, the risks facing digital financial services users are growing, and as mobile money scales across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and other emerging markets, so do the vulnerabilities it creates.This episode takes a hard look at the full arc of consumer protection in mobile money: what the challenge looks like today, where the industry is innovating, and what still needs to change. Regulators in fast-growing markets face a genuine tension — push too hard on protection and you risk stifling the growth that has brought hundreds of millions of people into the formal financial system; move too slowly and those same people bear the cost. Grounded in global evidence and policy experience, Jack is joined by Kennedy Kipkemboi, Director of Policy, Regulatory & Advocacy for Mobile Money at the GSMA, to explore what good regulation looks like, how it needs to evolve as mobile money moves beyond payments into credit, savings, and insurance, and what the next chapter of the regulatory playbook must deliver.Episode ThemesA snapshot of the consumer protection landscape in mobile money today, including the fraud typologies growing fastest and the populations most exposedHow regulators are learning to strike the balance between enabling mobile money growth and protecting users, drawing on the Mobile Money Regulatory Index, the 2024 Policy and Regulatory Handbook, and the markets that have managed to do bothHow regulation needs to evolve as mobile money expands beyond payments into credit, savings, and insuranceWhat the next chapter of mobile money regulation needs to look likeAbout Our Guest Kennedy Kipkemboi is the Director of Policy, Regulatory & Advocacy for Mobile Money at the GSMA. In this capacity, he leads GSMA's regulatory strategy for mobile financial services across GSMA's global footprint. Kennedy is an experienced public policy and regulatory affairs practitioner with over 14 years' experience spanning converged telecommunications and financial services. Prior to joining the GSMA, he worked with Safaricom PLC where he held several roles in Regulatory and Public Policy, Financial Services, and Customer Management. He is skilled in Government Relations, Stakeholder Management, and Strategic Planning.About Our SponsorWe are proud that CGAP is also the exclusive sponsor of Season 2! CGAP are a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good.For listeners interested to learn more about the topic, CGAP has produced valuable research:An Ecosystem Approach to Consumer Protection: What, Why and How?Three Lessons from Cote D'Ivoire on Responsible Digital Finance EcosystemsFollow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates.

Climate shocks are intensifying, and inclusive financial institutions are caught in the crossfire. As extreme weather events grow more frequent and severe, MFIs and inclusive banks face a dual challenge: protecting portfolio quality while continuing to support the clients who need them most.This episode takes a hard look at what happens when climate disaster strikes. Severe flooding in Pakistan wiped out livelihoods, disrupted local economies, and laid bare the fragility of financial systems serving climate-vulnerable communities. In the aftermath, around 40% of MFIs in the country reduced or paused lending to climate-affected sectors - decisions that compounded financial stress for households and slowed recovery at precisely the moment finance was needed most.Grounded in local stories and global evidence, Jack is joined by Peter Zetterli, Green Lead at CGAP, and Andrée Simon, Global CEO of FINCA, to explore practical, institution-level approaches that help MFIs and inclusive banks remain viable, protect their social mission, and channel climate adaptation finance to the communities that need it most.Episode ThemesThe global picture: who climate change is hitting hardestCGAP's study in Pakistan: what the data revealsFINCA's experience on the ground in PakistanHow inclusive financial institutions can adapt their products, operations, and governance to survive and serve in a climate-volatile worldWhat the sector needs from investors, donors, and governments to unlock the flow of climate adaptation finance to local communitiesAbout Our GuestsPeter Zetterli is CGAP's Green Lead, spearheading the organisation's work at the intersection of financial inclusion and climate change. With over 20 years of experience in economic and financial inclusion, much of it spent on the ground across multiple parts of Africa and China, Peter has led CGAP's work on fintech and the future of banking, merchant payments, rural agent networks, and social protection. He has also been deeply involved in shaping business models and regulatory frameworks for mobile money. Andrée Simon is the Global CEO of FINCA, overseeing the organisation's mission to end poverty through sustainable, scalable solutions driven by the needs of the communities it serves. FINCA creates opportunities for millions of people across more than 45 countries, with a focus on measurable results in income generation, resilience, and access to education. Andrée has dedicated more than 20 years to FINCA, playing a central role in shaping the organisation's growth, strategic direction, and business model transformation to create better value for customers and greater resilience across the network.Additional ResourcesIf you would like to read more on climate and financial inclusion, you can check out this collection of resources developed by CGAP.About Our SponsorWe are proud that CGAP is also the exclusive sponsor of Season 2! CGAP are a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good.Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates.

Stories stick where statistics don't. In this episode, we head to Central Asia to explore what happens when financial literacy stops being a classroom exercise and starts becoming entertainment. Our guestsBuazhar Abdykadyrova is a master trainer at the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. Recognising that institutional expertise has limits when it stays in a classroom, Buazhar built her social media presence across YouTube, Instagram, and Telegram — turning complex financial regulations into digestible 60-second videos. Arsen Imankulov is the founder of Salt LLC, working at the intersection of communications and behaviour change. The IFC-funded edutainment campaign spanning Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan implemented together with Buazhar produced TV drama series, social experiment videos, TED-style live events, and targeted digital campaigns — ultimately reaching 5.8 million citizens with over 70 million views.In the episode, we discuss: Why traditional financial education strategies fall short, and why social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) principles are becoming essential for organisations serious about shifting financial behaviours — not just awareness.The strategic logic behind the campaign's multi-channel funnel — how social experiment videos at the top of the funnel generated curiosity and reach, feeding into longer-form TV dramas designed to embed financial behaviours into relatable everyday narratives.How social experiment videos work as an edutainment tool, what made them effective with Central Asian audiences, and the key lessons for anyone considering this format. How do you decide which financial behaviours belong at the centre of a drama storyline? Buazhar shares how the team shaped content narratives for the TV series — and what made certain stories land with audiences across Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Running a campaign across two countries with distinct cultures, languages, and financial contexts meant far more than translating a script. The team shares what authentic localisation actually looks like in practice. The campaign didn't stop at reach. Arsen explains how TED-style live events with financial institutions physically present — with products on offer — bridged the gap between awareness and action. Plus: how the team ran a digital retargeting campaign using YouTube and Meta databases built through the social experiment videos, generating over 22,000 leads. Buazhar shares her experience using gamification as a financial literacy tool, and what she has learned about what makes people stop scrolling and actually engage with financial content on social media.The single most important takeaway from running SBCC campaigns at this scale...About Our SponsorWe are proud that CGAP is also the exclusive sponsor of Season 2! CGAP are a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good.Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and your host is Jack Farren.

In this episode, Jack met Gayatri Murthy, Gender Lead at CGAP to explore the next chapter of women's financial inclusion.Women’s financial inclusion has made undeniable progress, but access alone has not delivered empowerment. Drawing on global research and country experience, we unpack the systemic barriers that persist beneath the surface including gender norms embedded in institutions, fragmented efforts, and misaligned incentives. Through the episode, we explore how to move from access to agency, why collective action matters, and what it takes to trigger a visible step-change toward genuine economic empowerment for women.About Our GuestGayatri Murthy is CGAP’s gender lead. She is currently working on building country-level platforms in Mexico, Morocco and India to transform the financial sector for women customers. Her expertise spans building research methods, digital business models and gender intentional policy for low-income communities and women business owners. Gayatri has a Master’s degree in International Communication from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India. She is fluent in Hindi. Additional ResourcesIf you would like to read more on women's financial inclusion, you can check out this collection of resources developed by CGAP. Also, you can read this brand new blog co-authored by Gayatri on Redefining Approaches to Women's Financial Inclusion through a Collective Shift in Mexico.About Our SponsorWe are proud that CGAP is also the exclusive sponsor of Season 2! CGAP are a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good.Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and your host is Jack Farren.

In this episode, we sit down with Rahma Seif, Producer at Mediae, to go behind the scenes of one of East Africa's most successful edutainment initiatives. Edutainment  (education through entertainment) is moving from experimental to essential in the financial inclusion sector, with evidence showing it achieves significantly better knowledge retention and behaviour change than traditional approaches. Rahma walks us through Mediae's long-running serialised drama Makutano Junction and its spin-off Maisha Makutano, an educational TV drama set in a fictional Kenyan village that brings financial literacy to life through relatable characters and storylines.Key Topics DiscussedWhy stories stick where statistics don't -  the case for edutainment in financial inclusionHow Maisha Makutano portrays SACCOs and chamas as vital support systems for womenThe craft of character and storyline selection to deliver real financial literacy messagesBalancing entertainment value with educational content without the show feeling like a lectureMediae's two-way platform enabling viewers to seek personalised financial adviceMeasuring actual behaviour change beyond  viewership numbersPartnerships with TV networks for broad reach and audience data collectionSustaining high-quality content beyond initial donor funding, and the role financial institutions can playAbout Our GuestRahma Seif is a Producer at Mediae, a Nairobi-based organisation with a rich history in edutainment across East Africa. Rahma is passionate about using storytelling as a catalyst for social change in Africa. She leads multi-platform media productions that amplify African voices and perspectives, designs audience engagement strategies rooted in research and cultural insight and manages partnerships with brands, NGOs, and development organizations to align creative outputs with strategic goals.About Our SponsorIf you would like to read more on edutainment and financial inclusion following our discussion with Rahma, we recommend this blog post from our Series 2 sponsors CGAP — Everyone Loves Drama: Changing Financial Norms With Edutainment.CGAP is a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good.Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and your host is Jack Farren.

In Episode 4 of the series, we meet Solène Podevin Favre, Global Director of Insurance at VisionFund International. Solène shares VFI's experience designing and scaling inclusive insurance across Africa, Asia, and Latin America — covering what they've learned about co-creating trusted products with insurers and communities, and why partnership is key to building resilience for microfinance borrowers and NGO beneficiaries alike.Key Topics DiscussedSolène's journey from public health to leading microinsurance in global marketsHow VisionFund bundles insurance with microcredit across 25 countries and 1 million borrowersWhy health remains the top priority risk, even where national health schemes existClimate and agricultural insurance products for farming communitiesCo-creation: listening to beneficiaries and field staff to design products that workStart simple, iterate fast, and don't be afraid to change the productSustainable partnerships between insurers, MFIs, and NGOsAbout Our GuestSolène Podevin Favre has been Global Director of Insurance for VisionFund International since 2019, supporting MFIs in setting up insurance operations for borrowers and families. She is also a board member of the Microinsurance Network. Before VFI, she founded and led the first microinsurance company in Cambodia (Prévoir), reaching 300,000 policies with a team of 147. She also ran a microinsurance programme for slum dwellers in Maharashtra, India, and worked on Cambodia's National Social Security design. Solène holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health from EHESP.Links for Further ReadingVisionFund Insurance: visionfund.org/our-focus/insuranceAbout Our SponsorCGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all.Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.

Remittances are a vital financial lifeline for millions of African families, helping to strengthen household resilience, advance financial inclusion and support local economic growth. Across much of the continent, remittances have traditionally been received in cash, typically between US$200 and US$300 per transaction, often involving long travel times and the risks associated with carrying money. Through the EU-funded PRIME Africa Programme, implemented by IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), the remittance ecosystem in seven African countries has become more digital, inclusive and connected.The episode brings together voices from IFAD, the private sector and public institutions to discuss what it really takes to build inclusive remittance ecosystems and how the growing diaspora economy can unlock deeper financial inclusion. Meet The GuestsPedro De Vasconcelos - Programme Manager - Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), IFADPedro is IFAD’s Lead Senior Technical Specialist on remittances, migration and inclusive finance.  Under his leadership, the FFR financed over 70 innovative projects globally on migration and economic development by maximizing the impact of remittances and migrant investment in their communities of origin.  Samuel Abbey Dodoo - Head, Inclusive Banking, Fidelity Bank GhanaSamuel Abbey Dodoo is a Financial Inclusion strategist and Head of Inclusive Banking at Fidelity Bank Ghana. With over 15 years of experience, Samuel has led transformative initiatives that leverage technology to expand access to finance for youth, women, and underserved communities. He has spearheaded projects such as Digital Microcredit (Bosea Loan) Ecosystems and Gender-focused Digital Financial Literacy programmes.Sait Ceesay - Director, APS InternationalSait Ceesay is the Managing Director of APS International, a UK-based financial services company specialising in money remittance and services for the Gambian diaspora. Under his leadership, the firm operates in 17 countries, providing instant money transfers and top-up services.Emmanuel Ssemambo - Head of External Statistics Division, Bank of Uganda (BoU)Emmanuel Ssemambo oversees the compilation of Uganda’s Balance of Payments (BoP) and International Investment Position (IIP) statistics, which encompass the country’s trade in goods and services with the rest of the world, official and private transfers (including remittances), as well as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and other financial flows.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates from the world of financial inclusion.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.About Our SponsorCGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all.You can also follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.

In Episode 2, we meet Maria Mateo Iborra, Founder of IBISA. In this episode, Maria shares her entrepreneurial journey that led to founding IBISA, a company that leverages satellite technology to provide innovative insurance solutions for farmers. We discuss her passion for technology, the challenges of entering emerging markets, and her vision for making climate insurance mainstream. Key Topics DiscussedMaria's entrepreneurial journeyThe role of satellite technology in insuranceChallenges of scaling in emerging marketsImportance of storytelling and clear communicaiton as a founderRaising investmentAbout Our SponsorIf you would like to read more on climate insurance following our discusison with Maria, we recommend this ARTICLE from our Series 2 sponsors CGAP! CGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all.You can also follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates from the world of financial inclusion.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.

Welcome to Series 2!Happy New Year and welcome back to Financial Inclusion Unlocked! We're thrilled to kick off Series 2 with 10 powerful episodes releasing every Monday through the end of March. This season, we're diving deep into conversations with innovators, practitioners, and thought leaders who are working to unlock the potential of financial inclusion for all.In this opening episode, we tackle a topic that's often overlooked but desperately needs attention: disability inclusion in financial services. With 16% of the global population, that's 1 in 7 people, living with some form of disability, and 80% of them residing in low-and middle-income countries, the opportunity and imperative for action is clear.Meet Our GuestsPaul Surreaux is a financial inclusion specialist, disability advocate, and co-founder of the Barrier-Free Finance Initiative (BFFI), an organization advancing access to financial services for persons with disabilities worldwide. Since 2009, Paul has led multiple projects in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, combining capacity building with tailored financial products for vulnerable populations. A former investment officer who became a quadriplegic after a surfing accident, Paul brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his work. Luis Fernando Sanabria is the Chief Operating Officer of Fundación Paraguaya, where he has worked for over 30 years. Luis oversees all programs including microfinance, poverty elimination, entrepreneurial education, and self-sustainable schools. He is an architect behind Fundación Paraguaya's groundbreaking disability inclusion program and co-creator of the Poverty Stoplight methodology.Key Topics DiscussedUnderstanding Disability InclusionBarriers to Financial Inclusion for People with DisabilitiesFundación Paraguaya's Success StoryThe Business Case for Disability InclusionPractical Steps for FSPsAbout Our SponsorSeries 2 of Financial Inclusion Unlocked is proudly sponsored by CGAP.CGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all.Learn more at www.cgap.org. Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.Connect With UsDon't miss the remaining nine episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates from the world of financial inclusion.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.

Episode Sponsored by the Microinsurance NetworkIn November 2025, we travelled to Luxembourg for the European Microfinance Award. The award is a prestigious prize that recognises outstanding initiatives advancing financial inclusion; in its 2025 edition, the theme focused on building resilience through inclusive insurance.The award is organised by InFiNe, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), and the Luxembourg Government, with this year’s edition also supported by the Microinsurance Network.After a competitive global selection process, three MiN members were selected as finalists: Radiant Yacu – Rwanda, Dhan Foundation – India, and Britam Insurance – Kenya.In this bonus episode, we sat down with the winner of the 2025 Award: Radiant Yacu. Representing the organisation in Luxembourg was Emmanuel Nzanana, Operations Manager. Emmanuel joined us for an energising and insightful conversation about Radiant Yacu’s mission to protect low-income households from financial shocks, the innovative design behind their products, how they build trust in rural communities, and what the €100,000 award will enable them to achieve next.This episode is supported by the Microinsurance Network – a non-profit association of organisations and individuals who are committed to building a world where people of all income levels are more resilient and less vulnerable to daily and catastrophic risks through improved access to effective risk management tools, including insurance services.MiN brings together insurers, regulators, innovators, development partners, researchers, and practitioners across 70+ countries. Through research, advocacy, facilitation of best practices, and global knowledge-sharing, MiN plays a vital role in strengthening the inclusive insurance ecosystem.Learn more at www.microinsurancenetwork.org, and explore insights from their flagship global study, The Landscape of Microinsurance 2024: 👉 https://microinsurancenetwork.org/resources/the-landscape-of-microinsurance-2024A warm thank you also goes to InFiNe Luxembourg for supporting logistics of this episode. InFiNe (Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg) brings together 44 stakeholders from Luxembourg's public, private, and civil society sectors to promote financial inclusion globally. Learn more at www.infine.lu------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. The show is produced by SIJ Media.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on LinkedIn at SIJ Media.Connect with host Jack Farren on LinkedIn or at [email protected] 2 of Financial Inclusion Unlocked launches in January 2026.

Following a fantastic and successful Series 1 of show, we're excited to bring you a special bonus episode, before the launch of Series 2 in January 2026.In May 2025, Jack travelled to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands—a stunning nation in the Pacific made up of nearly 1,000 islands. With a population of just over 800,000, the country faces unique geographic and infrastructure challenges, especially when it comes to delivering financial services to its many remote communities.While there, we had the unique opportunity of sitting down with Governor Luke Forau, Governor of the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, for an honest and refreshing conversation exploring the country's digital transformation, including the launch of M-SELEN, a mobile money platform, innovations in climate insurance, the role of regulatory sandboxes, and why trust and community engagement are key to expanding financial inclusion.A huge thank you to Governor Forau for his time, and to the entire Central Bank team for so warmly hosting us in their offices.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

In this season finale, we take you to Uganda to explore how innovative fintech and agribusiness partnerships are driving a new era of agricultural finance for coffee growers.Emata is a Ugandan fintech (and licensed MFI) working in agriculture. They partner with agri companies to give smallholder farmers affordable, AI-powered digital loans. In this episode, Lilian Nassanga Musoke and Maren Hald Bjørgum walk us through the journey of the company since 2020 and how they partner with cooperatives and agribusinesses to invest in farmers.We’re also joined by Kifula Collins, Field Co-ordinator at Agri Evolve, a profit for purpose business working with over 15,000 coffee farmers in the Rwenzori Mountains. Collins shares insights into how their partnership with Emata works, and the impact for farmers in his community.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

What happens when one of the world’s biggest insurers decides to design products for the population that’s too poor to be rich — and too rich to be poor?In this deeply insightful conversation, Garance Wattez-Richard shares the story behind the creation of AXA EssentiALL. From her first pitch to launching operations in 22 markets, Garance walks us through the business model, the value proposition, and the mindset shift required to make insurance truly inclusive.Guest: Garance Wattez-Richard, Founder & CEO of AXA EssentiALLThe episode covered:The founding story of AXA EssentiALL, the profitable inclusive insurance business now serving over 17 million customersLaunching a new vision inside one of the world’s biggest insurersThe challenges with social intrapreneurshipLessons on how to scale inclusive insurance products and expand into new marketsInsights from her new book Middle Classes cannot be left behind: A call to actionThis is more than a discussion on insurance — it’s a masterclass in designing for trust, understanding the mass market, and building for dignity.Guest BioGarance Wattez-Richard began her career at the European Commission in Brussels in 1997 before working in the Office of the Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London until 1999. From 2000 to 2005, she worked as a strategy consultant for London Economics and Arthur D. Little.She joined AXA Investment Managers in Paris in 2005 and became Head of External Communications for the AXA Group in 2012. In 2016, she founded AXA's inclusive insurance business, AXA Emerging Consumers, which distributes insurance products to low-income populations in emerging markets. The business became AXA EssentiALL in 2024 when it expanded to European markets.She has been awarded the Intrapreneur of the Year prize by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and the first Women in Insurance Award by the Geneva Association.For listeners interested in reading Garance's new book Middle Classes cannot be left behind: A call to action, you can purchase a copy here:Amazon US (EN) Amazon France (EN) Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

Smallholder farmers are the backbone of Africa's agricultural sector, producing 80% of the region's food supply. In this episode, we met with Tim Strong, Head of Agricultural Finance for Opportunity International to discuss how financial inclusion can be a vehicle for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve their goals. Guest: Timothy Strong, Head of Agricultural Finance at Opportunity International USAThe episode covered:The $170 billion annual financing gap facing smallholder farmersThe role of smallholders in producing 80% of food supply in low-and middle-income nationsHow Opportunity International's network of 1,347 Farmer Support Agents (FSAs) has connected over 280,000 smallholder farmers with vital supportThe GROW Strategy for empowering women in agriculture, who make up 80% of the agricultural workforce in low-income countriesInnovation through UlangiziAI chatbot - providing instant agricultural advice in English and ChichewaClimate resilience and economic challenges facing smallholder farmersBlended finance models to de-risk agricultural investmentsTim StrongTimothy Strong serves as the Head of Agriculture Finance for Opportunity International. In addition to managing a diverse portfolio of agriculture finance products and services throughout Africa, he has spearheaded Opportunity’s efforts to implement and mainstream gender-inclusive services to empower women in farming. Tim is originally from Northern California and has worked in Southern and Eastern Africa since 2005.Before joining Opportunity, Tim worked with a Silicon Valley start-up coordinating Lean and Kaizen project management, the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Services, the U.S. Peace Corps, the Clinton Foundation, and several commercial farms. He received a Bachelor in Science in biochemistry and plant physiology from the University of California at Davis, and he holds a master’s degree in environmental policy and an MBA in operations management from Middlebury College. He lives with his family in Lilongwe, Malawi.For further information on the initiatives discussed in the episode, visit the following links:Opportunity International Agricultural Finance - WebsiteUlangizi AI Chatbot - NVIDIA Developer BlogAI is helping the worlds poorest farmers improve yields - Bloomberg ArticleFinancial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

The adoption of digital financial services, or DFS has created significant impact for underserved communities across the world. The United Nations states that inclusive digital financial services have allowed individuals to store and increase savings, cope with unexpected economic shocks, access social benefits more cheaply, and make investments in economic opportunities that can lead them out of poverty. However, whilst the adoption of DFS has the potential for transformative impact, digital financial literacy is a critical topic that needs to be addressed to ensure that individuals can use these platforms and tools safely. In Episode 7 of the Financial Inclusion Unlocked podcast, we met leading experts to discuss the topic in more detail and learn how GSMA and Visa are collaborating on a new Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) initiative in Kenya and Senegal.Guests:- Panos Loukos, Director - Financial Inclusion at GSMA- Jenelle Harris, Head of Financial Education at VisaThe episode covered:Introduction to Digital Financial ServicesThe Role of GSMA in expanding Digital Financial LiteracyVisa's Commitment to Financial EducationCollaboration in Kenya and SenegalLocalization and Cultural Relevance in Content DeliveryGamification and IncentivesPanos Loukos:Panos is Director, Financial Inclusion for the GSMA Mobile Money and AgriTech programmes. He leads GSMA’s partnership with Visa that has the objective to develop mobile-enabled financial education and drive scale among the unbanked and underserved in low- and middle-income countries. Panos also leads AgriTech’s insights function and is responsible for developing and delivering the programme’s learning agenda. Before joining the GSMA in 2015, Panos spent several years in leading analyst and consultancy firms with a special focus on mobile operators’ digital strategies. Panos holds a Master’s degree in Plant Science from Imperial College London and an MBA degree from the University of Manchester.Jenelle Harris:Jenelle is an Atlanta-based social impact strategist leading Visa’s Financial Education program. Prior to joining Visa, Jenelle led consulting teams as a Senior Manager with The Bridgespan Group, a social sector advisory firm. Driven by her commitment to contributing to a more just and equitable world, Jenelle began her career in education, including several years as a middle school teacher. She received her MBA from UC Berkeley Haas.For further information on the initiatives discussed in the episode, visit:GSMA Resources:Mobile Money ProgramMobile for DevelopmentVisa Financial Education Resources:Practical Money Skills: Practical Business SkillsFinancial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

When climate disasters strike, the world's most vulnerable communities often face devastating financial losses. In an era of increasing climate risks, traditional disaster response isn't enough. Communities need financial solutions that put them in control of their recovery.In Episode 6 of the Financial Inclusion Unlocked Podcast, we met with Nilesh Prakhash, Co-Director of the Global Shield against Climate Risks, to explore how locally led Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance solutions, or CDRFI, are increasing resilience.Nilesh shares his extensive experience in climate finance, explains the concept of CDRFI, the importance of pre-arranged financing, and the inclusive in-country processes that the Global Shield deploys to engage various stakeholders in assessing financial protection gaps in climate-vulnerable countries.Nilesh highlights successful examples, particularly the implementation of Ghana's tailored support package, including the recent payout of a drought insurance policy, and outlines the challenges and opportunities for local stakeholders within the Global Shield framework.Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in February 2025. Therefore, some of the content from the episode may have changed at the time of release. For the most up-to-date information on the work of the Global Shield, visit the website and follow the Global Shield on LinkedIn. The initiative is no longer active on X.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

The way that we view and define financial inclusion continues to evolve. Not only is financial inclusion measured on purely “access” but on how it can be a vehicle to accelerate the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.In this episode, we meet with Sophie Sirtaine, the Chief Executive Officer of CGAP, to discuss what the future of financial inclusion looks like.CGAP is an international partnership housed in the World Bank Group, dedicated to promoting inclusive financial ecosystems that enable a green, resilient, and equitable world for all.  She shared crucial insights on the new Financial Inclusion 2.0 initiative, how financial inclusion can build resilience against economic and climate shocks, and the potential of digital micro-pension schemes. Episode 5 Guest:- Sophie Sirtaine, Chief Executive Officer at CGAPThe episode covered:Sophie's Career OverviewThe changing definition of Financial InclusionHow financial inclusion can build resilience against economic and climate shocksCGAP’s Financial Inclusion 2.0 InitiativeThe potential of digital micro-pension schemesAdvice for innovators working on financial inclusionFinancial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

From Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to ROSCAs and Cuchubales, community-based financial groups have a long history of empowering individuals. Whether it’s for personal development or economic resilience, saving groups have been a cornerstone of financial inclusion for centuries. In this episode, we met with Jeff Ashe, a financial inclusion expert, author and lecturer with over 45 years experience in the sector. Jeff was previously a Senior Associate Director at Accion International, Executive Director at Working Capital, Director of Community Finance at Oxfam America and is now both the Executive Director at Grassroots Finance Action and an Adjunct Associate Professor lecturing on microfinance and financial inclusion at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.The episode covered:Overview and History of Saving GroupsJeff's transition from working in microfinance to saving groupsImpact of Oxfam America's Save for Change programme9 Principles for a Saving Group InitiaitiveDigitisation of Saving GroupsBackyard Bankers in the USAFeaturing Cindy, Saving Group LeaderFinancial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

Uganda is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with over 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers in the country. For those arriving in Uganda, accessing basic financial services has been incredibly difficult due to a lack of legal documentation, collateral and inadequate banking infrastructure. In this episode, we met with two leading experts representing Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited (OBUL) and Opportunity International UK (OIUK).Guests:- Amos Bonna, Chief Relationship Officer at Opportunity Bank Uganda Ltd- Noah Ssempijja, Country Lead Refugee Financial Inclusion Programme at Opportunity International UKThe episode covered:Barriers for refugees in the country in accessing financial servicesCollaboration between OIUK and OBULHow OBUL opened their first branch in a refugee settlementHow the bank serves refugees in settlements and urban areasHow the bank customise its products to cater to the needs of refugees?Delivering financial literacy trainingsFinancial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

With the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increasing, Small Island Developing States (SIDs) are bearing the brunt of climate change, facing a growing number of threats including cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels. For instance, Fiji alone has seen devastating impacts from cyclones like Cyclone Winston in 2016, which the World Bank stated caused over $1.4 billion in damage—around 20% of the country’s GDP.As communities in Small Island Developing States experience these challenges firsthand, climate risk insurance is emerging as a potential tool to help families and local businesses recover more quickly and build resilience.In this episode, Jack met with industry experts to learn about how parametric insurance can be deployed and also learnt about PICAP (the Pacific Insurance Climate Adaptation Programme).Guests:Matt Genazzini, Executive Director at Microinsurance NetworkKrishnan Narasimhan, Lead Specialist CDRFI at United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)Sinja Buri, Team Lead Climate Risk Finance Solutions at Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, housed at UNU-EHSFelichya Whippy-Khan, Product Owner Parametric Insurance at Tower Insurance in Fiji.Learn more about the Cyclone Insurance cover discussed with Felichya in the episode hereFinancial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or [email protected]

In the first episode of the new Financial Inclusion Unlocked podcast, Jack met with Thomas Yann Piveteau, Financial Sector Specialist at The World Bank to learn about Project FASTT. Thomas  explained the objectives of the project, which aims to develop fast payment systems globally. The discussion covers the benefits of these systems, the role of central banks, challenges in implementation, and the comparison between fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Thomas also highlights the global adoption of fast payment systems and future trends in the payment landscape.Check out the article mentioned in the episode on Fast Payment Systems vs CBDCs by World Bank and BIS here Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF. Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is launching on 24th March!!The new podcast series is on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs.From the heights of Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains to the islands of Fiji, we're uncovering stories of breakthrough solutions covering topics from parametric insurance protecting communities against cyclones to innovative solutions empowering refugee entrepreneurs and instant payments.Financial Inclusion Unlocked is hosted by Jack Farren, a social entrepreneur in the financial inclusion sector that is passionate about amplifying these stories.This show is produced by SIJ Media (www.sijmedia.com), and our first 10-episode series is sponsored by the Swiss Capacity Building Facility (www.scbf.ch)Follow "SIJ Media" on Linkedin for daily highlights and for the chance to take part in our competitions and giveaways. The Full Episode List in Series 1 is below:Thomas Yann Pivetau, Financial Sector Expert, World Bank Group (Episode 1) Krishnan Narasimhan, Lead CDRFI Specialist, UNCDF (Episode 2)Sinja Buri, Team Lead Climate Risk Finance Solutions, MCII (UNU-EHS) (Episode 2)Felichya Khan, Product Owner Parametric Insurance Tower Insurance Fiji (Episode 2)Matthew Genazzini, Executive Director, Microinsurance Network (Episode 2)Amos Bonna, Chief Relationship Officer, Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited (Episode 3)Noah Ssempijja, Country Lead Refugee Financial Inclusion Programme, Opportunity International UK (Episode 3)Jeff Ashe, Adjunct Associate Professor, Columbia University (Episode 4)Sophie Sirtaine, CEO, CGAP (Episode 5)Nilesh Prakhash, Co-Director, Global Shield Against Climate Risks (Episode 6)Panos Loukos, Director Financial Inclusion, GSMA (Episode 7)Jenelle Harris, Head of Financial Education, Visa (Episode 7)Tim Strong, Head of AgFinance, Opportunity International (Episode 8)Garance Wattez-Richard, Founder and CEO, AXA EssentiALL (Episode 9)Lillian Nassanga Musoka, Co-Founder and COO, Emata (Episode 10)Maren Hald Bjørgum, Chief Communications Officer, Emata  (Episode 10)Kifula Collins, Field Officer, Agri Evolve (Episode 10)