Financial Inclusion Unlocked

SIJ Media

The podcast meeting innovators and sector leaders who are unlocking the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Through a mix of in-depth conversations and documentary-style storytelling, the podcast highlights the people and projects driving meaningful change, while also exploring the big questions the sector needs to confront to move forward. Produced by SIJ Media

  1. S2 EP7 - 70 Million Views: Driving Financial Literacy through Edutainment in Central Asia

    1D AGO

    S2 EP7 - 70 Million Views: Driving Financial Literacy through Edutainment in Central Asia

    Stories stick where statistics don't. In this episode, we head to Central Asia to explore what happens when financial literacy stops being a classroom exercise and starts becoming entertainment.  Our guests Buazhar Abdykadyrova is a master trainer at the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. Recognising that institutional expertise has limits when it stays in a classroom, Buazhar built her social media presence across YouTube, Instagram, and Telegram — turning complex financial regulations into digestible 60-second videos.  Arsen Imankulov is the founder of Salt LLC, working at the intersection of communications and behaviour change. The IFC-funded edutainment campaign spanning Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan implemented together with Buazhar produced TV drama series, social experiment videos, TED-style live events, and targeted digital campaigns — ultimately reaching 5.8 million citizens with over 70 million views. In the episode, we discuss: Why traditional financial education strategies fall short, and why social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) principles are becoming essential for organisations serious about shifting financial behaviours — not just awareness.The strategic logic behind the campaign's multi-channel funnel — how social experiment videos at the top of the funnel generated curiosity and reach, feeding into longer-form TV dramas designed to embed financial behaviours into relatable everyday narratives.How social experiment videos work as an edutainment tool, what made them effective with Central Asian audiences, and the key lessons for anyone considering this format. How do you decide which financial behaviours belong at the centre of a drama storyline? Buazhar shares how the team shaped content narratives for the TV series — and what made certain stories land with audiences across Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Running a campaign across two countries with distinct cultures, languages, and financial contexts meant far more than translating a script. The team shares what authentic localisation actually looks like in practice. The campaign didn't stop at reach. Arsen explains how TED-style live events with financial institutions physically present — with products on offer — bridged the gap between awareness and action. Plus: how the team ran a digital retargeting campaign using YouTube and Meta databases built through the social experiment videos, generating over 22,000 leads. Buazhar shares her experience using gamification as a financial literacy tool, and what she has learned about what makes people stop scrolling and actually engage with financial content on social media.The single most important takeaway from running SBCC campaigns at this scale... About Our Sponsor We are proud that CGAP is also the exclusive sponsor of Season 2! CGAP are a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good. Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and your host is Jack Farren.

    35 min
  2. S2 EP6 - Addressing the Systemic Barriers to Women’s Financial Inclusion with Gayatri Murthy, Gender Lead at CGAP

    MAR 9

    S2 EP6 - Addressing the Systemic Barriers to Women’s Financial Inclusion with Gayatri Murthy, Gender Lead at CGAP

    In this episode, Jack met Gayatri Murthy, Gender Lead at CGAP to explore the next chapter of women's financial inclusion. Women’s financial inclusion has made undeniable progress, but access alone has not delivered empowerment.  Drawing on global research and country experience, we unpack the systemic barriers that persist beneath the surface including gender norms embedded in institutions, fragmented efforts, and misaligned incentives.  Through the episode, we explore how to move from access to agency, why collective action matters, and what it takes to trigger a visible step-change toward genuine economic empowerment for women. About Our Guest Gayatri Murthy is CGAP’s gender lead. She is currently working on building country-level platforms in Mexico, Morocco and India to transform the financial sector for women customers. Her expertise spans building research methods, digital business models and gender intentional policy for low-income communities and women business owners. Gayatri has a Master’s degree in International Communication from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India. She is fluent in Hindi.  Additional Resources If you would like to read more on women's financial inclusion, you can check out this collection of resources developed by CGAP. Also, you can read this brand new blog co-authored by Gayatri on Redefining Approaches to Women's Financial Inclusion through a Collective Shift in Mexico. About Our Sponsor We are proud that CGAP is also the exclusive sponsor of Season 2! CGAP are a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good. Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and your host is Jack Farren.

    38 min
  3. S2 EP5 - How a TV Drama Can Change Financial Behaviours in Kenya with Rahma Seif, Producer at Mediae

    MAR 2

    S2 EP5 - How a TV Drama Can Change Financial Behaviours in Kenya with Rahma Seif, Producer at Mediae

    In this episode, we sit down with Rahma Seif, Producer at Mediae, to go behind the scenes of one of East Africa's most successful edutainment initiatives. Edutainment  (education through entertainment) is moving from experimental to essential in the financial inclusion sector, with evidence showing it achieves significantly better knowledge retention and behaviour change than traditional approaches.  Rahma walks us through Mediae's long-running serialised drama Makutano Junction and its spin-off Maisha Makutano, an educational TV drama set in a fictional Kenyan village that brings financial literacy to life through relatable characters and storylines. Key Topics Discussed Why stories stick where statistics don't -  the case for edutainment in financial inclusionHow Maisha Makutano portrays SACCOs and chamas as vital support systems for womenThe craft of character and storyline selection to deliver real financial literacy messagesBalancing entertainment value with educational content without the show feeling like a lectureMediae's two-way platform enabling viewers to seek personalised financial adviceMeasuring actual behaviour change beyond  viewership numbersPartnerships with TV networks for broad reach and audience data collectionSustaining high-quality content beyond initial donor funding, and the role financial institutions can play About Our Guest Rahma Seif is a Producer at Mediae, a Nairobi-based organisation with a rich history in edutainment across East Africa. Rahma is passionate about using storytelling as a catalyst for social change in Africa. She leads multi-platform media productions that amplify African voices and perspectives, designs audience engagement strategies rooted in research and cultural insight and manages partnerships with brands, NGOs, and development organizations to align creative outputs with strategic goals. About Our Sponsor If you would like to read more on edutainment and financial inclusion following our discussion with Rahma, we recommend this blog post from our Series 2 sponsors CGAP — Everyone Loves Drama: Changing Financial Norms With Edutainment. CGAP is a global partnership of 40+ development organisations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, its independent research and analysis is available to all as a global public good. Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and your host is Jack Farren.

    37 min
  4. S2 EP4 - How Vision Fund is Building Client Resilience through Inclusive Insurance with Solène Podevin Favre, Global Director for Inclusive Insurance

    FEB 24

    S2 EP4 - How Vision Fund is Building Client Resilience through Inclusive Insurance with Solène Podevin Favre, Global Director for Inclusive Insurance

    In Episode 4 of the series, we meet Solène Podevin Favre, Global Director of Insurance at VisionFund International. Solène shares VFI's experience designing and scaling inclusive insurance across Africa, Asia, and Latin America — covering what they've learned about co-creating trusted products with insurers and communities, and why partnership is key to building resilience for microfinance borrowers and NGO beneficiaries alike. Key Topics Discussed Solène's journey from public health to leading microinsurance in global marketsHow VisionFund bundles insurance with microcredit across 25 countries and 1 million borrowersWhy health remains the top priority risk, even where national health schemes existClimate and agricultural insurance products for farming communitiesCo-creation: listening to beneficiaries and field staff to design products that workStart simple, iterate fast, and don't be afraid to change the productSustainable partnerships between insurers, MFIs, and NGOs About Our Guest Solène Podevin Favre has been Global Director of Insurance for VisionFund International since 2019, supporting MFIs in setting up insurance operations for borrowers and families. She is also a board member of the Microinsurance Network. Before VFI, she founded and led the first microinsurance company in Cambodia (Prévoir), reaching 300,000 policies with a team of 147. She also ran a microinsurance programme for slum dwellers in Maharashtra, India, and worked on Cambodia's National Social Security design. Solène holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health from EHESP. Links for Further Reading VisionFund Insurance: visionfund.org/our-focus/insurance About Our Sponsor CGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all. Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.

    33 min
  5. S2 EP3 - Transforming Remittances Into Opportunity Across the African Continent

    FEB 9

    S2 EP3 - Transforming Remittances Into Opportunity Across the African Continent

    Remittances are a vital financial lifeline for millions of African families, helping to strengthen household resilience, advance financial inclusion and support local economic growth.  Across much of the continent, remittances have traditionally been received in cash, typically between US$200 and US$300 per transaction, often involving long travel times and the risks associated with carrying money.  Through the EU-funded PRIME Africa Programme, implemented by IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), the remittance ecosystem in seven African countries has become more digital, inclusive and connected. The episode brings together voices from IFAD, the private sector and public institutions to discuss what it really takes to build inclusive remittance ecosystems and how the growing diaspora economy can unlock deeper financial inclusion.  Meet The Guests Pedro De Vasconcelos - Programme Manager - Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), IFAD Pedro is IFAD’s Lead Senior Technical Specialist on remittances, migration and inclusive finance.  Under his leadership, the FFR financed over 70 innovative projects globally on migration and economic development by maximizing the impact of remittances and migrant investment in their communities of origin.    Samuel Abbey Dodoo - Head, Inclusive Banking, Fidelity Bank Ghana Samuel Abbey Dodoo is a Financial Inclusion strategist and Head of Inclusive Banking at Fidelity Bank Ghana. With over 15 years of experience, Samuel has led transformative initiatives that leverage technology to expand access to finance for youth, women, and underserved communities. He has spearheaded projects such as Digital Microcredit (Bosea Loan) Ecosystems and Gender-focused Digital Financial Literacy programmes. Sait Ceesay - Director, APS International Sait Ceesay is the Managing Director of APS International, a UK-based financial services company specialising in money remittance and services for the Gambian diaspora. Under his leadership, the firm operates in 17 countries, providing instant money transfers and top-up services. Emmanuel Ssemambo - Head of External Statistics Division, Bank of Uganda (BoU) Emmanuel Ssemambo oversees the compilation of Uganda’s Balance of Payments (BoP) and International Investment Position (IIP) statistics, which encompass the country’s trade in goods and services with the rest of the world, official and private transfers (including remittances), as well as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and other financial flows. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates from the world of financial inclusion. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren. About Our Sponsor CGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all. You can also follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter.

    43 min
  6. S2 EP2 - Building a Climate Insurance Tech Startup with Maria Mateo Iborra, Founder of IBISA

    FEB 2

    S2 EP2 - Building a Climate Insurance Tech Startup with Maria Mateo Iborra, Founder of IBISA

    In Episode 2, we meet Maria Mateo Iborra, Founder of IBISA. In this episode, Maria shares her entrepreneurial journey that led to founding IBISA, a company that leverages satellite technology to provide innovative insurance solutions for farmers. We discuss her passion for technology, the challenges of entering emerging markets, and her vision for making climate insurance mainstream.  Key Topics Discussed Maria's entrepreneurial journeyThe role of satellite technology in insuranceChallenges of scaling in emerging marketsImportance of storytelling and clear communicaiton as a founderRaising investment About Our Sponsor If you would like to read more on climate insurance following our discusison with Maria, we recommend this ARTICLE from our Series 2 sponsors CGAP!  CGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all. You can also follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates from the world of financial inclusion. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.

    33 min
  7. S2 EP1 - How Can Financial Institutions Better Serve Clients with Disabilities?

    JAN 26

    S2 EP1 - How Can Financial Institutions Better Serve Clients with Disabilities?

    Welcome to Series 2! Happy New Year and welcome back to Financial Inclusion Unlocked! We're thrilled to kick off Series 2 with 10 powerful episodes releasing every Monday through the end of March. This season, we're diving deep into conversations with innovators, practitioners, and thought leaders who are working to unlock the potential of financial inclusion for all. In this opening episode, we tackle a topic that's often overlooked but desperately needs attention: disability inclusion in financial services. With 16% of the global population, that's 1 in 7 people, living with some form of disability, and 80% of them residing in low-and middle-income countries, the opportunity and imperative for action is clear. Meet Our Guests Paul Surreaux is a financial inclusion specialist, disability advocate, and co-founder of the Barrier-Free Finance Initiative (BFFI), an organization advancing access to financial services for persons with disabilities worldwide. Since 2009, Paul has led multiple projects in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, combining capacity building with tailored financial products for vulnerable populations. A former investment officer who became a quadriplegic after a surfing accident, Paul brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his work.  Luis Fernando Sanabria is the Chief Operating Officer of Fundación Paraguaya, where he has worked for over 30 years. Luis oversees all programs including microfinance, poverty elimination, entrepreneurial education, and self-sustainable schools. He is an architect behind Fundación Paraguaya's groundbreaking disability inclusion program and co-creator of the Poverty Stoplight methodology. Key Topics Discussed Understanding Disability InclusionBarriers to Financial Inclusion for People with DisabilitiesFundación Paraguaya's Success StoryThe Business Case for Disability InclusionPractical Steps for FSPs About Our Sponsor Series 2 of Financial Inclusion Unlocked is proudly sponsored by CGAP. CGAP is a global partnership of more than 40 development organizations working to advance the lives of people living in poverty through financial inclusion. Housed at the World Bank, it works at the frontier of inclusive finance to test solutions, spark innovation, generate evidence, and share insights. As a global public good, its independent research and analysis is available to all. Learn more at www.cgap.org. Follow CGAP on LinkedIn or subscribe to its newsletter. Connect With Us Don't miss the remaining nine episodes of Series 2! Subscribe to Financial Inclusion Unlocked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Join the conversation on LinkedIn at Financial Inclusion Unlocked for video highlights, insights, and updates from the world of financial inclusion. Financial Inclusion Unlocked is produced by SIJ Media and hosted by Jack Farren.

    49 min
  8. BONUS – 2025 European Microfinance Award Winner Radiant Yacu on their Inclusive Insurance Journey

    11/15/2025

    BONUS – 2025 European Microfinance Award Winner Radiant Yacu on their Inclusive Insurance Journey

    Episode Sponsored by the Microinsurance Network In November 2025, we travelled to Luxembourg for the European Microfinance Award. The award is a prestigious prize that recognises outstanding initiatives advancing financial inclusion; in its 2025 edition, the theme focused on building resilience through inclusive insurance. The award is organised by InFiNe, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), and the Luxembourg Government, with this year’s edition also supported by the Microinsurance Network. After a competitive global selection process, three MiN members were selected as finalists: Radiant Yacu – Rwanda, Dhan Foundation – India, and Britam Insurance – Kenya. In this bonus episode, we sat down with the winner of the 2025 Award: Radiant Yacu. Representing the organisation in Luxembourg was Emmanuel Nzanana, Operations Manager. Emmanuel joined us for an energising and insightful conversation about Radiant Yacu’s mission to protect low-income households from financial shocks, the innovative design behind their products, how they build trust in rural communities, and what the €100,000 award will enable them to achieve next. This episode is supported by the Microinsurance Network – a non-profit association of organisations and individuals who are committed to building a world where people of all income levels are more resilient and less vulnerable to daily and catastrophic risks through improved access to effective risk management tools, including insurance services. MiN brings together insurers, regulators, innovators, development partners, researchers, and practitioners across 70+ countries. Through research, advocacy, facilitation of best practices, and global knowledge-sharing, MiN plays a vital role in strengthening the inclusive insurance ecosystem. Learn more at www.microinsurancenetwork.org, and explore insights from their flagship global study, The Landscape of Microinsurance 2024: 👉 https://microinsurancenetwork.org/resources/the-landscape-of-microinsurance-2024 A warm thank you also goes to InFiNe Luxembourg for supporting logistics of this episode. InFiNe (Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg) brings together 44 stakeholders from Luxembourg's public, private, and civil society sectors to promote financial inclusion globally. Learn more at www.infine.lu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. The show is produced by SIJ Media. Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on LinkedIn at SIJ Media. Connect with host Jack Farren on LinkedIn or at jack@sijmedia.com Series 2 of Financial Inclusion Unlocked launches in January 2026.

    37 min
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About

The podcast meeting innovators and sector leaders who are unlocking the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Through a mix of in-depth conversations and documentary-style storytelling, the podcast highlights the people and projects driving meaningful change, while also exploring the big questions the sector needs to confront to move forward. Produced by SIJ Media

Information

  • Creator
    SIJ Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Financial Inclusion Unlocked
  • Show Website
    Financial Inclusion Unlocked