The adoption of digital financial services, or DFS has created significant impact for underserved communities across the world. The United Nations states that inclusive digital financial services have allowed individuals to store and increase savings, cope with unexpected economic shocks, access social benefits more cheaply, and make investments in economic opportunities that can lead them out of poverty.

 However, whilst the adoption of DFS has the potential for transformative impact, digital financial literacy is a critical topic that needs to be addressed to ensure that individuals can use these platforms and tools safely.

In Episode 7 of the Financial Inclusion Unlocked podcast, we met leading experts to discuss the topic in more detail and learn how GSMA and Visa are collaborating on a new Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) initiative in Kenya and Senegal.

Guests:

– Panos Loukos – Director, Financial Inclusion at GSMA
– Jenelle Harris – Head of Financial Education at Visa

The episode covered:

• Introduction to Digital Financial Services
• The Role of GSMA in expanding Digital Financial Literacy
• Visa’s Commitment to Financial Education
• Collaboration in Kenya and Senegal
• Localization and Cultural Relevance in Content Delivery
• Gamification and Incentives

Panos Loukos:

Panos is Director, Financial Inclusion for the GSMA Mobile Money and AgriTech programmes. He leads GSMA’s partnership with Visa that has the objective to develop mobile-enabled financial education and drive scale among the unbanked and underserved in low- and middle-income countries. Panos also leads AgriTech’s insights function and is responsible for developing and delivering the programme’s learning agenda. Before joining the GSMA in 2015, Panos spent several years in leading analyst and consultancy firms with a special focus on mobile operators’ digital strategies. Panos holds a Master’s degree in Plant Science from Imperial College London and an MBA degree from the University of Manchester.

Jenelle Harris:

Jenelle is an Atlanta-based social impact strategist leading Visa’s Financial Education program. Prior to joining Visa, Jenelle led consulting teams as a Senior Manager with The Bridgespan Group, a social sector advisory firm. Driven by her commitment to contributing to a more just and equitable world, Jenelle began her career in education, including several years as a middle school teacher. She received her MBA from UC Berkeley Haas.