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Economic Inclusion Project Brings 25 Institutions Together to Promote Savings, Financial Inclusion

Lima Saves financial fair hosted as part of Global Money Week

March 26, 2024

LIMA, Peru—The USAID/WOCCU Economic Inclusion Project (EIP) joined local partners to host a March 21 Global Money Week event featuring 25 financial institutions, public and private entities and NGOs that provided trainings, presentations and workshops to promote financial education and raise awareness about the importance of savings for local and migrant entrepreneurs.

“Savings play a crucial role in the daily lives of households, enabling investments in education and durable goods, and paving the way to a more prosperous and secure future,” said Oscar Guzman, Chief of Party for the Economic Inclusion Project. “The figures show that there is still a long way to go. Globally, only 48% of the adult population saves money, and only 27% do so through financial institutions. Although 60% of Peruvians save voluntarily, only 32% do so within the formal financial system. By examining this data, we can better understand the financial needs and challenges of the population and design more effective policies and programs to promote responsible savings.”

Presented under the theme “Creating Opportunities for Success”, the Lima Saves financial fair also provided attendees with access to a wide range of financial products, including credit, loans and insurance.

The City of Lima's Economic Development Management program co-hosted the event. Peru’s Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Pension Funds also provided support and emphasized the importance these type of activities have in educating people and bringing financial institutions closer to populations that require support to get ahead, such as microentrepreneurs.

The Economic Inclusion Project (EIP) hosts a series of events each year during Global Money Week to help the public and financial institutions explore the ways everyone can play a role in strengthening a culture of accessible finance for all. You can learn more about all those events on the EIP Facebook page.



World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 82,758 credit unions in 97 countries serve 404 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.

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Contact: Greg Neumann
Organization: World Council of Credit Unions
E-mail: gneumann@woccu.org
Phone: +1 608-395-2048
 
Lima Saves financial fair
Lima Saves financial fair
Peru’s Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Pension Funds' booth
Peru’s Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Pension Funds' booth
Oscar Guzman (far left) represented EIP at the Lima Saves financial fair
Oscar Guzman (far left) represented EIP at the Lima Saves financial fair

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