Shaping the future of financial well-being for all

Financial health, or financial well-being, has become increasingly important in recent years, especially given the economic uncertainties faced by individuals and organizations worldwide.

But what does financial health mean? It is the ability to meet present financial needs and commitments and plan for the future, and the level of satisfaction experienced about one’s financial situation. It includes things like having a stable income, being savvy with budgeting, having emergency savings tucked away for a rainy day, managing debts effectively, having adequate insurance coverage, being knowledgeable about personal finances, and being able to weather financial storms without undue stress.

While there have been efforts to improve financial literacy and access to financial services, there’s still work to be done to tackle underlying issues and promote holistic approaches to enhancing financial well-being.

That’s where our event comes in. We’re bringing together experts and stakeholders from different sectors to delve into the various aspects of financial health and discuss strategies for building resilience and inclusivity in financial systems. We’ll learn from past experiences and explore ways to expand financial health initiatives beyond initial trial phases.

Organizations with extensive experience in designing and supporting financial resilience solutions will be sharing their insights. They’ll cover everything from building markets to creating social safety nets. The big question we’ll be addressing is whether financial service providers play a central role in providing financial health-led financial services including responsible loans, smart savings schemes, insurance, etc, and other non-financial services to effectively cope with the effects of economic volatility and climate change on vulnerable communities.

Given the unpredictable nature of today’s economic and environmental landscapes, and the increasing recognition of the role financial products and services play in addressing day-to-day challenges, our event aims to spark dialogue and collaboration. Through real-life case studies, data-driven insights, and a focus on raising awareness about the benefits of financial health, we hope to inspire collective action toward building more resilient and inclusive financial systems worldwide. 

Join us in shaping the future of financial well-being for all.

Event details

• Format: Webinar
• Duration:  60 min with Q&A
• Date: June 12th BST 2pm

REGISTER HERE

About the speakers

• Dr. Max Niño-Zarazúa / Financial inclusion consultant 

Max is a seasoned consultant with over 20 years of experience in the financial inclusion industry. He offers a unique combination of academic excellence. He has a PhD in Economics and International Development from a British university, with microfinance grassroots delivery and industry insight from starting a microfinance institution from scratch and co-founding his own FinTech startup. Max is passionate about responsible inclusive finance that works for the low-income population, particularly women and other vulnerable groups. Max has a track record of designing and implementing projects in the areas of FinTech, Financial education, and financial health, programme design & implementation, product & business development, institutional assessments and social impact evaluations. Max worked with DAI Global as Programme Director leading the implementation of the HMG FCDO Mexico Financial Services Prosperity Programme achieving outstanding results in FinTech regulation, FinTech adoption, and digital financial education. Max has extensive proven consulting experience with international donors, microfinance institutions, banks, FinTechs, Think Thanks, and INGOs, such as FCDO, Mibanco-Peru, AFIRME Bank-Mexico, UNICEF, ILO, FAO, UNDP, ECLOF International, Habitat for Humanity International, amongst others.  Max is Co-Heading the work at the European Microfinance Platform’s Action Group “From Research to Practice”, he is a visiting fellow at the Centre of Development Studies, University of Bath, and a member of the board of trustees at Deki Microfinance Organisation in Bristol, UK.

• Davide Castellani / Phd, University of Bergamo

Davide has over 15 years of experience in the field of inclusive finance, specializing in international projects on financial health, financial education, green inclusive finance, gender-inclusive finance, and SME finance. He has conducted market studies and research activities in several countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia. He serves as an Associate Professor of Finance, Banking, and Microfinance at the University of Bergamo in Italy. Davide holds a Ph.D. in Financial Markets and Intermediaries and a Master’s in Cooperation and International Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries. He is the founder and co-leader of the e-MFP From Research to Practice and Back Again Action Group. Fluent in English and Spanish, he is a native Italian speaker.

• Deborah Foy / Executive Director, Opportunity International

Deborah has worked for Opportunity International for the past 22 years. In her current role as Executive Director, Deborah facilitates collaboration between key global offices and supports the leadership team of to continually improve the network’s ability to serve clients and impact lives, both today and into the future. Deborah is passionate about finding innovative ways to reach those most excluded, particularly smallholder farmers, forcibly displaced populations, and young people. Deborah has travelled extensively and spent three years living in Colombia, where she supported the growth of two microfinance institutions. Deborah holds an M.Sc. in International Development from the University of Bristol and a BA in Economics and Geography from the University of Exeter.

• Nancy Thomas  / Senior Microfinance Advisor, CARE International UK

• Trey Waters / Senior Manager, Financial Health Network

Trey has over eight years experience working internationally with a focus on business and economic development. He worked with business ranging from micro enterprises to Fortune 500 companies to assist in growth and business development. Additionally, he strong processes development skills around financial tracking and program implementation and management experience in Africa.

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