Join us for an in-depth discussion about gender-responsive financial products and services this May.
MicroLoan Foundation will be hosting a digital panel discussion on the gender-responsive financial products and services as a way to women’s financial empowerment and inclusivity.
We know that in many developing societies, social and cultural norms have implications on the most basic aspects of women’s self-determination, dignity and freedom.
They define how women earn a living and maintain control over resources.
It is estimated that 742 million women in the poorest parts of the world have no access to financial services with 246 million having bank accounts but not using them. In this panel, we will discuss solutions and question why this might be the case.
As society’s primary caregivers, many women undertake most domestic responsibilities, they are more likely to adopt cost-conscious and lower-risk strategies when it comes to financial management.
This begs the question: Do financial products and services with a one-size-fits-all approach overlook the needs of rural women?
The event is free to attend but if you wish to make a donation, your money will provide financial literacy and business training for women living in poverty.
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Panellist - Medha Wilson is the Chief Executive Officer at MicroLoan Foundation. In her current role she oversees the activities of MicroLoan’s operations in Africa and is responsible for developing the overall strategy of the group, which includes digital transformation and product expansion to better serve some of the world's most financially excluded women. She serves on the board of the three MicroLoan subsidiaries in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Medha has extensive experience in financial inclusion in both senior operational and investment management roles in emerging and frontier markets, across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Medha is a Qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a degree in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from The London School of Economics.
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Panellist - Elizabeth Kiamba works across a range of projects at CGAP. She engages with funders, global advocacy bodies, and support organizations to provide guidance, and advocate for effective financial inclusion. She also works on projects on digital finance solutions for last mile clients, micro and small enterprise (MSE) finance and the linkages between financial services, improved livelihoods, and access to basic services.
Before joining CGAP, Elizabeth was the FSD Network Manager at FSD Africa where she managed a portfolio of projects covering varied financial sector themes such as credit, insurance, remittances, housing finance, digital finance and financial integrity. Prior, Elizabeth was a management consultant at PwC’s Public Sector Advisory team where she provided strategic support on project design, implementation and management to government agencies, donors and non-profits, working in different development sectors.
Elizabeth holds Master of Arts degree in Development Management from the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (IEE) at Ruhr University (Germany), a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management (Finance and Banking) from Moi University (Kenya). She is a certified Project Manager (PRINCE2 Practitioner) and Accountant (CPA).
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Panellist -Cecilia Akintomide is a seasoned executive with expertise in Development Finance, Corporate Governance, Law, and General Management. She is an Independent Director on the Boards of CcHUB Growth Capital, Nigeria’s first social innovation fund, supporting high potential early-stage businesses, SWAgCo, an agricultural sector investment company; and Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), a state government agency, focused on promoting development and investments.
Cecilia is a member of the Board of Regents of Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading universities, and the Board of Trustees of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL). She was also an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of FBN Holdings Plc., one of Africa’s leading financial services holding companies, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, and operating in various African countries and the United Kingdom. Cecilia is also a member of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria.
She has served in senior roles including Vice President Secretary General of the African Development Bank (AfDB). In that role, she provided leadership for the dynamic relationship between the AfDB and its then 80 member states, and served as Secretary to the 80-member Ministerial Boards of Governors and 20-member resident Boards of Directors. Cecilia also served as Head of Public and Private Sector Projects and Policy, in the General Counsel & Legal Department of the AfDB, leading a brilliant team in the legal aspects of design, documentation, negotiation, closing and management of projects and policy-based financing transactions all over Africa, as well as in the formulation of operations policies and compliance monitoring. At the AfDB, Cecilia was a member of the Presidential Council, the Senior Management Coordination Committee, Operations Committee and the Executive Crisis Management Committee.
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Moderator - Steve serves as Board Chair for MicroLoan Foundation USA, the US arm of the MicroLoan Foundation. He also is head of the Strategic Accounts team at Fidelity Charitable, the USA's leading Donor Advised Fund. Steve is experienced in non-profit board leadership, focused on SDG goals to reduce poverty, create gender equality, and create decent work and employment. His efforts are focused on providing financial literacy training, business mentoring, and micro lending to women in sub-Saharan Africa.
