This virtual event, a follow-up to the Women Leaders Initiative discussed during the 4^th SARFII Leaders Roundtable in the Maldives, will focus on addressing the persistent gender gap in financial inclusion within our region.

Background:

Despite notable progress in financial inclusion, a significant gender gap remains in South Asia’s financial sector. The Global Findex 2021 highlights that while the region’s financial inclusion rate is 68%, the gender gap persists, particularly in digital payments and mobile internet usage. This roundtable aims to address these challenges and explore actionable strategies to advance gender-inclusive finance.

Objectives:

• To gather insights, experiences, and recommendations from women leaders on advancing financial inclusion for women in South Asia.
• To discuss strategies for encouraging and mentoring women towards increased representation in financial inclusion policymaking.
• To strengthen partnerships and collaborations for gender-inclusive finance initiatives.