{"id":43257,"date":"2023-02-24T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging21.finca.org\/uncategorized-en-ca\/new-year-new-milestones-looking-ahead-to-year-six-of-the-financial-inclusion-project"},"modified":"2024-11-04T02:06:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T07:06:06","slug":"new-year-new-milestones-looking-ahead-to-year-six-of-the-financial-inclusion-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finca.org\/en-ca\/new-year-new-milestones-looking-ahead-to-year-six-of-the-financial-inclusion-project","title":{"rendered":"New Year, New Milestones: Looking Ahead to Year Six of The Financial Inclusion Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Looking back on the last five years, FINCA Canada surpassed its goals year-over-year by successfully building and achieving financial equity for both women and men in Haiti<\/a> and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)<\/a>. In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Financial Inclusion Project<\/a> has seen remarkable success by improving living standards in impoverished nations, creating jobs and building assets and tools for both men and women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite receiving approval from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to extend the Financial Inclusion Project for another year, recent security complications in Haiti have impacted FINCA clients and staff. Unfortunately, as a result, FINCA Haiti will be unable to move forward with the project in 2023. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this unforeseen change, the project has expanded funds to further fuel activities in the DRC until the project\u2019s close in September 2023. This transition of funds will provide opportunities for training new clients, community members and staff to ensure even more of an impact is made in our DRC communities. This year, the Financial Inclusion Project\u2019s mission is to continue to promote the economic prosperity of low-income women and men in the DRC while staying true to the project\u2019s four pillars of research, training, products & services and channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Establishing goals for 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we start year six, we reflect on and celebrate the Financial Inclusion Project\u2019s impact over the past year in Haiti and the DRC. Financial literacy training was a great success for both countries, surpassing all targeted goals. Our most recent diversity and inclusion course \u2013 the third of its kind \u2013 was also successfully launched and shared with other microfinance institutions. Toward the end of 2022, we saw improvements in poverty rates in FINCA clients in both nations, with DRC moving from 12 percent to 9 percent and Haiti from 34.6 percent to 32.6 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to the year ahead, we anticipate FINCA DRC will see substantial improvements. Further implementing the financial literacy training program and improving our clients\u2019 financial management skills will be key milestones. Progress here will ensure the financial products and services that FINCA DRC offers will become even more accessible, and we are proud that our colleagues remain the country\u2019s only microfinance institution to offer financial literacy training to community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other key milestones in the DRC to watch for include the following:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n