More than 600 leaders from 80 countries are set to gather at the Dead Sea - Jordan for the 2022 AFI Global Policy Forum (GPF), the world’s largest financial inclusion convening on September 7 and 8.

The event is co-hosted by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) under the theme of “Moving forward together: Towards a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future”.  
 
AFI members, together with partners and stakeholders from 6 continents, are meeting in person, bringing a broad variety of voices on financial inclusion beyond the pandemic. Prior to the Forum, a series of closed meetings exclusively for AFI members are taking place earlier in the week including the gatherings of AFI working groups, regional initiatives, as well as the AFI Annual General Meeting.
 
The 2022 GPF will highlight proven financial inclusion policy solutions beyond the pandemic and look forward into the future. Deliberations will address how can central bankers and other financial regulators, in addition to monetary and financial stability objectives, enhance financial inclusion. and also underline the role of financial inclusion in ensuring inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic recovery, rebuilding and growth.  
 
Commenting on AFI 2022 GPF, the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan Governor Dr Adel Al-Sharkas said: “We are very proud of our cooperation with the reputable AFI, and we commend AFI’s efforts and determination to bringing all the stakeholders here in Jordan, especially after the pandemic.

“It is a timely opportunity for us here in Jordan to showcase and share our ongoing rigorous efforts towards financial inclusion and learn from AFI network’s abundant and diverse experiences in implementing sustainable and pioneering financial inclusion policies. Our World needs, more than ever, joint coordinated efforts among all partners and players across the globe to ensure we deliver financial inclusion and resilience for all.”
 
AFI Global Policy Forum will highlight the 4 pillars of themes of financial inclusion: livelihood, sustainability, social and innovation. Against the backdrop of these four pillars, the participants will look at the next 10 years as economies rebuild, especially after the shocks caused by the pandemic.
 
Dr Alfred Hannig, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion said: “Moving forward and expanding greater financial inclusion can only be done together, as we face similar challenges and develop common solutions. The GPF offers enlightening, focused, and practical conversations to set the course of financial inclusion for the next decade. I thank our reliable partner and co-host Central Bank of Jordan for their tireless efforts in making this 2022 GPF a reality. With, more than 600 stakeholders, I am certain that our discussions and debates will be rich, innovative, and tailored towards novel policies and solutions.”
 
For the first time, the AFI Global Financial Inclusion Awards, will recognize and celebrate policy achievements of members in three categories, including two new high-level awards launched this year.
 
The Nestor Espenilla Jr. Financial Inclusion Innovation Award is a new high-level AFI Award that honours the memory and legacy of Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a founding member of AFI and a global champion of innovation and inclusion. This prestigious Award aims to recognize AFI members that demonstrate outstanding commitment towards innovation and use of technology to advance financial inclusion.   
 
The Global Youth Financial Inclusion Award, also a new high-level AFI Award, will recognize financial policymakers and regulators across the globe who are driving impactful initiatives, policies or regulations to accelerate the financial inclusion of youth. The award is open to AFI members and non-member financial sector regulators and policymakers from any country. - TradeArabia News Service