Watch: Part 1 of the ‘Bridging the Digital Divide’ webinar series
In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, digital financial services have emerged as a powerful tool for empowering women and advancing gender equality. Recognizing the significance of this topic, the IE Africa Center and the UNCDF Policy Accelerator have joined forces to create a thought-provoking webinar series titled "Bridging the Digital Divide." The first webinar in this series delved into the transformative potential of digital financial services in empowering women and driving gender equality.
The webinar is part one of a 3-part series. Find more information about the upcoming webinars →
Watch the video
Watch the webinar — Breaking Barriers: Bridging the Gender Gap in Digital Finance
Voices from the webinar
Three presenters participated in the webinar, which was moderated by the director of IE University’s Africa Center, Eniola Harrison. She opened the floor for insightful discussions on the barriers and opportunities surrounding women's financial inclusion in the digital era.
Patricia Gabaldon, representing IE University, provided insights into access and consumer protection in the digital financial ecosystem. She emphasized the need to create a safe and secure environment for women to engage with digital financial services. Effective consumer protection mechanisms can build trust and confidence, enabling women to fully embrace the benefits of digital financial inclusion.
Sophie Falsini, from the UNCDF Policy Accelerator, presented on the importance of sex-disaggregated data and its role in policymaking. By integrating a gender lens into policy development, governments and stakeholders can address the specific needs and barriers faced by women, ensuring that digital financial services are accessible, affordable, and appropriate for all.
Isaac Bezabih, Information & Communication Technology Officer at Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Ethiopia, discussed the activities DOT has been carrying out on the topic of Women's Financial Inclusion, as well as some of the challenges and opportunities that they have identified in the Ethiopian context.
By providing a real-world examples, Isaac was able to shed light on the challenges faced by women in accessing financial services, particularly in rural areas. He highlighted how digital financial services have the potential to bridge this gap, providing women with greater control over their finances and fostering economic empowerment.
Up next: ‘Protecting Consumers in the Digital Financial Ecosystem’
The "Bridging the Digital Divide" webinar series offers a dynamic and engaging platform to explore the future of digital finance and financial inclusion. This next webinar in this series, Protecting Consumers in the Digital Financial Ecosystem, will take place on June 22 and focus on the importance of consumer protection in the digital financial ecosystem. The speakers will discuss the risks and challenges faced by consumers in using digital financial services and how to address them through effective regulation and industry best practices.
Whether you are a policymaker, researcher, practitioner, or simply interested in learning more about digital financial inclusion, we invite you to register now and join this enlightening discussion to contribute towards a more inclusive and equitable digital future.
