Direct selling company rolls out pilot project in Turkey and Nigeria to increase financial inclusion for marginalised communities with plan for expansion in Middle East region
Dubai; 15 August 2022: QNET, global e-commerce-based direct selling company is proud to kick off FinGreen, its signature financial literacy programme aiming to develop healthy financial habits through education and training in the most vulnerable communities, especially among young adults to empower women and youth in emerging economies. QNET is rolling out the pilot for FinGreen in two countries, Turkey and Nigeria, initially, with plans for expansion into Middle East market in its next phase.
Developing financial knowledge, skills, and habits are important steppingstones in young people's path to independence and inclusion. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development[1], financial literacy is essential for economic stability and growth, especially among youth in developing economies.
Conceived in 2021, FinGreen aligns with the United Nations SDGs[2] and the Addis Ababa Agenda[3] to provide adequate skills and proper developmental training for all, particularly for youth, women, and those aspiring to be entrepreneurs. The programme will play a pivotal role in supporting marginalised communities in emerging economies to reduce poverty through capacity building and equipping participants with basic financial knowledge for better decision-making in their daily life.
FinGreen aims to address the challenges of young adults' financial know-how by equipping them with the proper knowledge and confidence to make conscious decisions on effectively managing financial services based on these three pillars:
· Assess – FinGreen's first approach to educating communities on financial know-how is planted from the ground up. FinGreen collaborates with local experts and partners to assess who, where, and how best to implement training sessions. FinGreen will also run surveys throughout the programme to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of the training, alongside addressing any issues along the way.
· Train – Training is divided into short sessions that are conducted face-to-face or online, where peer-to-peer conversations are highly encouraged. This is especially important for young adults, especially those from economically underprivileged backgrounds, who may lack the resources to complete longer courses. FinGreen trainers are carefully vetted based on their qualifications and teaching methods.
· Advocate – A unique facet of FinGreen is its commitment to building a sustainable programme, serving as a foundation for developing curiosity, self-esteem, and relational skills through education. Participants are encouraged to become points of reference for their peers and community on financial literacy topics, creating a ripple effect that makes financial knowledge more accessible and has a long-lasting influence on the community.
Financial literacy is one of the main drivers of the developmental goals in modern society. Under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), financial literacy and education are interlinked with multiple objectives, such as Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG10). It also plays a vital role in supporting overall economic growth and encouraging governments, corporations, and communities to achieve broader development goals, such as establishing solid social security and providing equal opportunity for all, regardless of demographic.
EDUCATING WOMEN ON FINANCIAL LITERACY IN TURKEY
FinGreen held its first online training session in Turkey in May in which 45 women from different walks of life – especially those from economically challenged backgrounds – joined in to learn about budget management, basic investment skills, and how to manage personal finance responsibly.
The FinGreen progamme in Turkey will continue to focus on educating women and young adults on essential financial knowledge through online training workshops and short-form videos.
TRAINING NIGERIAN YOUTH ON MANAGING FINANCES RESPONSIBLY
In Nigeria, FinGreen will kickstart in partnership with Financial Literacy For All (FLFA), a nonprofit organisation providing on-the-ground financial training workshops for students and young adults in underserved communities. This initiative will impart critical financial management skills and promote responsible behaviour in Nigerian youth communities – abilities essential to leading stable, productive, and fulfilling lives.
ADVOCATING FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSIVITY
Additionally, FinGreen addresses common financial barriers faced by young entrepreneurs and women looking to participate in the global e-commerce boom. FinGreen aims to educate these communities about financial risk awareness in an increasingly knowledge-based and digital world. This is especially pertinent now as global online transactions increased by 10% last year as the pandemic accelerated demand for digital purchases[6].
'Financial literacy is a key skill for individuals, especially the youth,' Ms. Malou Caluza, the CEO of QNET comments. 'Higher mobile phone penetration and earlier adoption of technological services mean that the younger generation is likely to be exposed to more financial products compared to their parents. They have access to banking facilities, payment platforms, and financial services at an earlier age. Developing their skills and equipping them with proper financial understanding will give youth the tools they need to make savvy and informed decisions regarding their finances, such as managing their savings or planning their budget responsibly.”
She adds, 'As a business that is focused on developing micro-entrepreneurs, we understand that financial independence starts with education and inclusion. Through our FinGreen programme, we strive to help young people and women learn the skills, habits, and attitude to make informed financial decisions, online and offline.'
FinGreen launches in Nigeria in July. QNET plans to expand the FinGreen programme in other regions in sub-saharan Africa and the Middle East in its next phase.
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