In a time when more and more individuals can access fast-paced technological improvements and increased financial alternatives, there has become a growing opportunity to build gaps in the area of financial information and services. However, there remain members of the society that are being left out in these developments, among which are women. According to the World Economic Forum, women today make up 55% of the world's unbanked population.
Women have an indisputably important role in society, and as a result, they must also have access to vital institutions. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), when people are financially included, they can "realize their stake in national prosperity, they are empowered to make better, informed choices when it comes to their financial welfare and future. In turn, they are able to make sound decisions that raise their productivity and standard of living".
Financial literacy and financial freedom are some of the ways that the women and the rest of the Filipino population can be empowered. Relative to this, the BSP recently launched the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, which seeks to support the goal of financial inclusion in the country. In line with this, the ECCP and its Special Committee on Open Finance and Financial Inclusion invite you to its virtual forum entitled "Promoting Women and Financial Inclusion Today". This event will serve as a platform for exchange on the interconnectivity of financial wellness and women empowerment, as well as their role in advancing inclusive socio-economic development.