The 6th International Week of Financial Citizenship (IWFC – 2016) – a Joint Learning Programme, organised by Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) and AFI is being held in Brasília from 5-9 December 2016. The event is being led by the International Affairs Department (DERIN) of BCB and is being attended by 20 participants from 13 AFI member countries representing member institutions from Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and Latin America.

Brazil has a unique approach to financial inclusion. Brazil’s strategy toward promoting financial inclusion has the citizen at the core, with a focus on both the rights and duties of a citizen. The concept of Financial Citizenship is very comprehensive and based on three pillars: financial inclusion, financial education and consumer protection. Brazil has chosen the agency banking system as the preferred channel for delivery of financial products and services. This JLP focuses on all the three aspects of Financial Citizenship and agency banking.

The opening remarks were delivered by BCB Deputy Governor Isaac Sidney Menezes Ferreira, and André Minella, Head of the International Affairs Department Brazil, along with AFI’s LAC Regional Manager, Carlos Moya.

Deputy Governor Ferreira while discussing the need for a comprehensive approach, highlighted the importance of collaboration in ensuring the success of financial citizenship. BCB implements its strategy in collaboration with the  private sector and civil society. This responsibility is being jointly shared to ensure there is a common commitment to access, use and quality of services. This approach is also aligned with the global approach towards financial inclusion, as expressed through Maya Declaration Commitments by AFI member institutions and the Sustainable Development Goals announced by the UN.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Moya expressed his appreciation for the active participation of BCB in the AFI network. He thanked previous Deputy Governor Luis Edson Feltrim for his engagement and collaboration with AFI and welcomed the continued support provided by Deputy Governor Ferreira. He also thanked Deputy Governor Tiago Berriel for the co-organization of the JLPs.

BCB was appointed as the Chair of The FILAC Leaders Roundtable last month in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, and as the Co-Chair of the AFI Board of Directors, in the recently held Global Policy Forum 2016 of AFI, last September in Fiji.

This is the sixth JLP that is being hosted by BCB in collaboration with AFI. 117 participants representing 38 institutions from 34 countries have benefitted from these six JLPs and it has been one of the most popular capacity building events of AFI.