STAFF WRITER
The Alliance for Financial Inclusion Chief Executive Officer Alfred Hannig on Thursday lauded Namibia for place processes that promote financial inclusion.
Speaking at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion Global Policy Forum in Swakopmund, Hannig said members of the alliance have a lot to learn from Namibia’s progress.
“Our host country, Namibia, is an excellent example of progress on financial inclusion. The country’s achievements in instant payments, MSME financing, and regulating innovation are remarkable, and we are looking forward to learning about how these successes have been achieved.
Because none of this progress on financial inclusion has happened by accident. These gains have been hard-earned,” Hannig said.
Hannig said while the global gender gap is narrower than ever, it remains as high as 30% in some regions. 1.3 billion adults – 55% of them women – remain financially excluded.
“We need to keep strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting digital IDs and supporting inclusive payment ecosystems. Particularly in Africa, there is good news. In sub-Saharan Africa, the share of adults with an account has grown from 24% in 2011 to 58% today. Among mobile money users, the gender gap has totally disappeared,” Hannig said.
Hannig added that, “I am more optimistic than pessimistic about what’s happening in the world. Over the last year I’ve spoken with many of you, asking how current geopolitical developments are influencing your financial inclusion agenda. The answers I got should be of interest to all of you.”
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