Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: Financial and Digital Inclusion - for People on the Move

Organizer(s): WVI, private sector FinTech, community reps

8 May 24 09:00-10:30 UTC+2 (Salle 9)

SessionAbstract

Session Abstract Summary/ Problem Statement:

In 2023, there displacements within and across national borders have been at new record-breaking highs. Climate change impact and multiple new, as well as existing protracted conflicts have triggered movement of vulnerable people. In 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other drivers (OCHA, 2024). Internal displacement reached a record level at the end of 2022, with 71.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) around the globe (IOM 2024). UNHCR predicts that there will be almost 131 Mio people forcefully displaced in 2024 requiring substantive humanitarian and financial assistance (UNHCR Global Appeal 2024). The latest World Economic Situation and Prospects report for 2024 points to a generally challenging global economic landscape. The world economy continues to face multiple crises, jeopardizing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Geopolitical tensions and the growing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events have increased underlying risks and vulnerabilities also for host communities. More displaced people have access to digital communication tools, e.g. mobile phones, than ever – still their awareness of and access to digital financial services while “being on the move” – often across national borders – continues to be a major challenge. This session aims at bringing local and international voices, different sector expertise together to share experiences, challenges and in an interactive section of the proposed session – with the audience onsite and online – propose innovative approaches and service/ programme solutions to build financial inclusion and economic resilience for forcibly displaced populations.

Agenda:
• Sharing experiences from Colombia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Romania, NW Syria
• Perspectives from the audience/ Q&A
• statements from each panelist on gaps/ challenges
• Key takeaways (moderator summary)

Abstract:
1. Objectives/ Expected Outcomes
• Participants learn and share perspectives regarding challenges and how to better create financial products, services for forcibly displaced populations, people on the move
• Participants and panel identify concrete opportunities and next steps of convergence, collaboration to strengthen financial resilience and self-sufficiency of most vulnerable people on the move

2. Target Audience

Organisations working with Refugees, Internally Displaced, Children and youth focused agencies, humanitarian and development, cash transfer experts, economic inclusion, gender, conflict/ humanitarian response & recovery; advocacy, policy leads, private sector/ FinTech, donors/IFIs.

The session will:
1. Highlight the challenges of providing adequate financial service access for “people on the move” (several country examples)
2. Promote an understanding of what services, programmes products by which stakeholders already exist and require more linkages to strengthen synergies, complementarities – in particular for vulnerable families on the move with children
3. Engage with the audience in Q&A, discussion to understand how to best navigate and effectively address basic financial needs of people on the move in increasingly protracted and complex displacement crises around the world

3. Language
English

4. Speakers:

Dilsia Del Valle Jimenez, Venezuela, Savings Group participant, “VENCOL”

Ruaa Alkhudari, Early Recovery and Livelihoods Advisor, Syria Crisis Response

Sofia Cárdenas works as ASOBANKARIA Financial Inclusion Leader/ Economist and Local Development Specialist, Colombia

Nataliia Cholan, LMMS Specialist, Ukrainian Refugee Response

Lorena Mihăilescu, Marketing and Communications Specialist at Smith & Smith FSP, Romania

Moderators:

Isidro Navarro, Senior Technical Advisor for CVA & Market Based Programming, responsible for Latin America/ Carribean and Middle East/ Eastern Europe

Dr. Kathryn Taetzsch, Snr global Director Humanitarian/ Development Capacity/ Capabilities

Agenda

Draft Agenda

Keynote presentation framing the issues followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with presenters and audience to ensure interactive session and sharing of experiences

· Sharing experiences from MENA, LAC, Asia

· Perspectives from the audience/ Q&A

· 1 sentence statements from each panelist on gaps/ challenges

· Key takeaways (moderator summary)

Speakers

Dilsia Del Valle Jimenez

Savings Group participant, “VENCOL”

Lidia is a migrant that came to Colombia from the Lara State in Venezuela two years ago. Dilsia is a mother and household head living in the municipality ofSoachawith her children and grandchildren.On arrival Dilsia received multipurpose cash transfers to meet her basic needs. Then Dilsia joined a savings group to build her resilience and financial capacity. At present Dilsia isasmall entrepreneur with plans to stay and prosper in Colombia for the long term.