Interactive discussion Livestream

Pathways to Financial Inclusion for Refugees and Migrants: Empowering Communities for a Better Future

Thursday, October 5, 2023 From 15:30 to 17:00 (CET) Centre International de Conférences Genève - Room A
Social

Access to finances is an essential aspect of socioeconomic development. However, refugees and migrants face challenges in accessing finances, limiting their ability to participate fully in society. To address this issue, our event aims to explore pathways to financial inclusion for refugees & migrants, empowering communities for a better future.

Speakers:

Rooh Savar

Co-Founder - Welcome Place

Rooh Savar has co-founded Welcome Place, a community-driven neobank, that provides simple and inclusive financial solutions for newcomers. He is President of SINGA, a global movement creating open societies for everyone, regardless of their background, to realize their full potential. In Iran, Mr. Savar contributed to the creation of several cultural & social charities and co-founded a digital communication agency in 2007 with his artist and activist friends. When he arrived in France, he began working with the media, writing articles and reports on international issues, in particular focusing on the Middle East. Realizing the lack of first-hand information from local, direct sources but also European and American journalists’ lack of knowledge regarding the complexity of local contexts, he designed the Jahan.info platform.

Carmen Hett

Treasurer - UNHCR

Carmen Hett is UNHCR's Corporate Treasurer and a Corporate Finance Professional with vast expertise in devising capital structures, together with strategic resource allocation for growth initiatives and organizational strategic objectives. She has responsibility for managing globally financial resources in the delivery of humanitarian aid and inclusive financial and economic development. She is a leader in using transformational technologies, including blockchain, to deliver humanitarian assistance, manage emergency responses, and support economic inclusion and development. Her career spans more than 25 years at blue-chip companies and public sector organizations at both the director and board level.

Francesco Di Salvo

Senior Financial Sector Specialist - World Bank

Francesco Di Salvo is a Senior Financial Sector Specialist at the World Bank’s Payment System Development Group. He provides technical assistance to governments and central banks, supporting policy reforms and projects related to financial services. Previously, he worked at Mastercard and the European Central Bank.

Alexandre Maaza

Global Outreach - Cardano Foundation

As Outreach Development Officer at the Cardano Foundation, Alexandre Maaza pursues developing SDG-centric initiatives and partnerships enabled by the Cardano blockchain. Currently a board member of Amnesty International South Africa with experience in the NGO sector, he also has experience in innovation cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa. Mr. Maaza holds a masters in International Affairs specialising in Trade and International Finance from the Geneva Graduate Institute, as well as a Bachelor in Economics and Finance, and Social Development from the University of Cape Town.

Yousra Hamed

Microfinance Specialist - International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Yousra, a financial inclusion expert at the ILO's Social Finance Program in Geneva, spearheads the ILO’s Global Programme on Financial Education and drives initiatives to enhance financial inclusion for migrant workers, refugees, and those in fragile settings. Her role extends to advising and collaborating with the banking sector across Africa, Asia, and the MENA region. Yousra leverages her extensive expertise to guide these institutions in aligning their efforts with the pursuit of decent work and reaching underserved populations. Her qualifications include a Ph.D. in Economics, with a dedicated focus on inclusive finance.