ACCELERATING FAIR DIGITAL FINANCE IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

Digital financial services are transforming people's lives worldwide.

With access to credit, savings and loans, families can prepare for financial shocks, young people can invest in their future, and women are empowered through increased financial independence. 

But if people are to really benefit from financial inclusion, digital financial services must protect and empower consumers, everywhere.

Through the Fair Digital Finance Accelerator, Consumers International is helping consumer associations in low- and middle- income countries fight for a future where consumers everywhere can embrace advances within the sector, through services which are inclusive, safe, data-protected and sustainable

 

The Fair Digital Finance Accelerator

Consumer advocates drive change through diverse advocacy channels and strategies, such as working alongside policy-makers to ensure regulation guarantees consumer protectionlegal action, market research and complaints handling. For more, read our report with CGAP 

The Fair Digital Finance Accelerator leverages this power and scales the potential of consumer associations.   

Members include

More than 50 consumer associations across the world, from Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia are currently in the Fair Digital Finance Network. They protect vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers including women, children, older people and hard-to-reach communities. This vibrant and committed group see great potential for consumer protection within digital finance, by improving safety, data-protection and privacy and implementing effective consumer dispute and resolution mechanisms.   

What we offer Network Members:  

  • Access to a global community of financial service consumer advocates and experts
  • Platforms, events and opportunities to build and strengthen advocacy channels with regulators
  • Training modules designed for consumer advocates on cutting edge themes and coaching to drive local action
  • Coordinated consumer advocacy campaigns at national and regional level
  • Thought leadership and knowledge building, including case studies and our annual publication on the state of digital financial services in low- and middle-income countries
  • Opportunities to apply for support for research and projects.

 

The Fair Digital Finance Accelerator is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with support from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

The Fair Digital Finance Advisory Panel ensures the Accelerator is on the cutting edge of developments in digital finance policy and regulation. It is made up of policy experts and senior leaders from across consumer advocacy, business, regulation and civil society. 

Ashley Onyango

Head of Financial Inclusion and AgriTech, Mobile for Development,GSMA

María José 

Directora Ejecutiva,

Tribuna Ecuatoriana de Consumidores y Usuarios

 

 

Deon Woods Bell

Senior Advisor, Global Policy, Financial Services for the Poor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  

Anna Wallace, 

SPO Consumer Protection and RegTech, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Juan Carlos Izaguirre 

Senior Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP 

Eric Duflos 

Senior Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP

Maria Lúcia Leitão

Head of Banking Conduct Supervision Department, Central Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal) 

Myra Valenzuela

Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP

Njuguna Ndung'u

Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury & Economic Planning.

Rosemary Shumirayi Chikarakara Mpofu 

Executive Director, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe

Tamara Cook 

CEO, Financial Sector Deepening Kenya

Tidhar Wald 

Deputy Managing Director, Better Than Cash Alliance 

Youkyung Huh 

Director of Digital and Financial Regulatory Policy, Consumers Korea 

Latest News

New Research:

Read our latest report, Digital finance: The consumer experience, 2023. Available in English, French and Spanish. 

read more

New training modules now available:

Modules four and five of the Fair Digital Finance Accelerator training programme have just been released to Accelerator members, covering advocacy strategies and how to write a winning grant proposal. Look out for module six - launching at the end of June!

read more

Events: 

Designing gender-intelligent financial consumer protection with CGAP, Consumer Council Zimbabwe & other experts. Watch the webinar.

read more

Latest blog: 

Women make up 54% of unbanked adults globally. Key barriers include a lack of trust in the financial system and poor digital and financial literacy, which holds many women back from financial independence.

In this blog with FinDev Gateway, we  explore how a gender-intelligent approach to consumer protection can help remove barriers, mitigate risk, and secure women's trust in the financial system.

read more

Opportunities for Accelerator Members

Join Fair Digital Finance Training Courses

Designed by experts in the field and in partnership with key stakeholders, our tailored training programme supports consumer associations in low- and middle- income countries to navigate the rapidly evolving world of digital finance.   

Over three years Members will gain a comprehensive understanding of the sector with:  

  • Knowledge of the underlying mechanics of digital financial services  
  • Expertise in the consumer risks associated with digital financial services, such as fraud, scams, and data risks and the digital finance regulatory environment.  
  • Awareness of the specific challenges facing women and marginalised groups 
  • The skills to lead informed and effective conversations with regulators, governments and stakeholders. 

 

Contact the team for more information. 

Apply for Grants

The Fair Digital Finance Accelerator offers grants to committed Members of the network. These  grants help Members to amplify consumer concerns in local and national discussion, generate unique insights, broaden the reach of their advocacy activities, and deliver innovative programmes which support vulnerable and underserved communities.  

Applications for the first round are now closed. 

Please email FDFA@consint.org for any questions you may have. 

HOW TO JOIN US

If you are a Consumers International Member based in a low- and middle-income country you can join the Network and build a fair digital finance marketplace. Contact FDFA@consint.org  to find out more.