Introduction

Digital financial inclusion represents a transformative pathway to women's economic empowerment, offering unprecedented opportunities to access financial services that have historically been out of reach for women. Mobile money, digital payments, and online banking platforms can overcome geographical barriers, reduce security risks associated with cash, and provide a discreet means for women to manage their finances, save, borrow, and invest. Despite this immense potential, a significant gender gap in digital financial access persists globally, driven by factors such as lower mobile phone ownership among women, limited digital literacy, restrictive social norms, and financial product designs that don't adequately address women's unique needs. Addressing these disparities is crucial not only for achieving gender equality but also for unlocking economic growth and fostering more resilient and inclusive societies. This essential training course focuses on Digital Financial Inclusion for Women, equipping participants to champion equitable access and utilization of digital finance.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to equip financial service providers, policymakers, development practitioners, civil society organizations, technology innovators, and gender equality advocates with the theoretical understanding and practical tools necessary to accelerate digital financial inclusion for women. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the barriers women face in accessing and using digital financial services, learn to design gender-sensitive digital financial products, and explore strategies for enhancing digital and financial literacy among women. The course will delve into topics such as the gender digital divide, human-centered design for women, agent network development with a gender lens, digital financial literacy programs, combating digital fraud, and fostering an enabling regulatory environment. By mastering the principles and methodologies of Digital Financial Inclusion for Women, participants will be empowered to contribute to a financial ecosystem where all women can leverage digital tools to enhance their economic well-being and achieve financial independence.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Financial Service Providers (Banks, Microfinance Institutions, Fintechs, Mobile Network Operators)
• Policymakers and Regulators (Central Banks, Finance Ministries, Telecom Regulators)
• Development Practitioners and Program Managers
• Gender Equality Advocates and Researchers
• Technology and Innovation Specialists
• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on Women's Economic Empowerment
• Digital Literacy Trainers
• Customer Experience and Product Development Teams
• Consultants in Financial Inclusion

Course Objectives

• Understand the concepts of digital financial inclusion and the gender digital divide.
• Analyze the socio-cultural, economic, and technical barriers women face in accessing and using digital financial services.
• Learn to apply human-centered design principles to develop gender-sensitive digital financial products and services.
• Acquire skills in designing and delivering effective digital and financial literacy programs for women.
• Explore strategies for building and managing gender-responsive agent networks.
• Comprehend the importance of consumer protection and cybersecurity in digital finance for women.
• Identify key elements of an enabling policy and regulatory environment for women's digital financial inclusion.
• Understand how digital financial services contribute to women's economic empowerment and broader development goals.
• Examine global best practices and successful case studies of digital financial inclusion for women.
• Develop a practical action plan for advancing digital financial inclusion for women in their context.
• Enhance advocacy skills for inclusive digital financial ecosystems.

Course Content

Module 1: The Landscape of Digital Financial Inclusion and the Gender Gap

• Defining digital financial inclusion (DFS) and its components (mobile money, digital payments, online banking).
• Global trends in DFS and the persistent gender gap in access and usage.
• Socio-economic and cultural factors contributing to the gender digital divide (e.g., mobile phone ownership, literacy, social norms).
• The potential of DFS to empower women: increased privacy, safety, and control over finances.
• Overview of international frameworks and initiatives promoting women's digital financial inclusion.

Module 2: Understanding Women's Financial Needs and Behaviors

• Common financial challenges faced by women (e.g., irregular income, care responsibilities, limited assets).
• Gender-specific financial needs (e.g., savings for education/health, managing household expenses, small business finance).
• Research methodologies for understanding women's financial behaviors and preferences.
• Identifying digital payment use cases most relevant to women's daily lives.
• The role of informal financial practices and how DFS can complement or formalize them.

Module 3: Human-Centered Design of Digital Financial Products for Women

• Principles of human-centered design (HCD) and their application to DFS for women.
• Designing user interfaces and user experiences (UI/UX) that are intuitive and accessible for women.
• Incorporating features that address women's specific needs (e.g., privacy, security, group savings).
• Iterative testing and feedback loops with women users to refine product design.
• Case studies of successful gender-sensitive DFS products.

Module 4: Digital and Financial Literacy for Women

• The importance of combined digital and financial literacy for effective DFS uptake and usage.
• Designing culturally appropriate and engaging literacy programs for diverse women.
• Utilizing peer-to-peer learning, trusted agents, and digital channels for delivery.
• Addressing varying levels of literacy and numeracy among women.
• Measuring the impact of financial and digital literacy interventions.

Module 5: Building Gender-Responsive Agent Networks

• The critical role of agents in facilitating DFS adoption and usage, particularly for women.
• Strategies for recruiting and training female agents and agents who understand women's needs.
• Ensuring agent locations are safe, accessible, and convenient for women.
• Incentivizing agents to serve women customers effectively.
• Addressing safety concerns for both female agents and female customers.

Module 6: Consumer Protection and Cybersecurity for Women in DFS

• Understanding common risks in digital finance (e.g., fraud, scams, data breaches).
• Tailoring consumer education messages for women to enhance awareness and safety.
• Developing accessible and gender-sensitive grievance redress mechanisms.
• Implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect women's financial data.
• Addressing online harassment and exploitation risks in digital financial interactions.

Module 7: Leveraging DFS for Women's Economic Empowerment

• DFS as a tool for women entrepreneurs: facilitating payments, access to credit, and market linkages.
• Enabling women's participation in formal value chains through digital payments.
• DFS for wage payments and remittances, enhancing women's financial control.
• Strengthening women's savings habits and financial resilience through digital platforms.
• Measuring the broader socio-economic impact of DFS on women's lives and agency.

Module 8: Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Women's Digital Financial Inclusion

• Analyzing existing policies and regulations from a gender perspective.
• Advocating for gender-responsive regulations (e.g., tiered KYC, agent network regulations).
• Promoting financial consumer protection laws that specifically address women's vulnerabilities.
• The role of digital identity systems in facilitating women's access to DFS.
• Encouraging public-private partnerships to advance women's digital financial inclusion.

Module 9: Innovation, Data, and the Future of DFS for Women

• Emerging technologies and their potential for women's financial inclusion (e.g., AI, blockchain).
• The importance of collecting and analyzing gender-disaggregated data on DFS usage and impact.
• Addressing data privacy concerns in advanced data analytics.
• Best practices in innovation and pilot programs for women's DFS.
• The role of collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships in accelerating women's digital financial inclusion.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training