Following a fantastic and successful Series 1 of show, we're excited to bring you a special bonus episode, before the launch of Series 2 in January 2026.

In May 2025, Jack travelled to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands—a stunning nation in the Pacific made up of nearly 1,000 islands. With a population of just over 800,000, the country faces unique geographic and infrastructure challenges, especially when it comes to delivering financial services to its many remote communities.

While there, we had the unique opportunity of sitting down with Governor Luke Forau, Governor of the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, for an honest and refreshing conversation exploring the country's digital transformation, including the launch of M-SELEN, a mobile money platform, innovations in climate insurance, the role of regulatory sandboxes, and why trust and community engagement are key to expanding financial inclusion.

A huge thank you to Governor Forau for his time, and to the entire Central Bank team for so warmly hosting us in their offices.

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

In this season finale, we take you to Uganda to explore how innovative fintech and agribusiness partnerships are driving a new era of agricultural finance for coffee growers.

Emata is a Ugandan fintech (and licensed MFI) working in agriculture. They partner with agri companies to give smallholder farmers affordable, AI-powered digital loans. In this episode, Lilian Nassanga Musoke and Maren Hald Bjørgum walk us through the journey of the company since 2020 and how they partner with cooperatives and agribusinesses to invest in farmers.

We’re also joined by Kifula Collins, Field Co-ordinator at Agri Evolve, a profit for purpose business working with over 15,000 coffee farmers in the Rwenzori Mountains. Collins shares insights into how their partnership with Emata works, and the impact for farmers in his community.

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

What happens when one of the world’s biggest insurers decides to design products for the population that’s too poor to be rich — and too rich to be poor?

In this deeply insightful conversation, Garance Wattez-Richard shares the story behind the creation of AXA EssentiALL. From her first pitch to launching operations in 22 markets, Garance walks us through the business model, the value proposition, and the mindset shift required to make insurance truly inclusive.

Guest: 

Garance Wattez-Richard, Founder & CEO of AXA EssentiALL

The episode covered:

• The founding story of AXA EssentiALL, the profitable inclusive insurance business now serving over 17 million customers
• Launching a new vision inside one of the world’s biggest insurers
• The challenges with social intrapreneurship
• Lessons on how to scale inclusive insurance products and expand into new markets
• Insights from her new book Middle Classes cannot be left behind: A call to action

This is more than a discussion on insurance — it’s a masterclass in designing for trust, understanding the mass market, and building for dignity.

Guest Bio

Garance Wattez-Richard began her career at the European Commission in Brussels in 1997 before working in the Office of the Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London until 1999. From 2000 to 2005, she worked as a strategy consultant for London Economics and Arthur D. Little.

She joined AXA Investment Managers in Paris in 2005 and became Head of External Communications for the AXA Group in 2012. In 2016, she founded AXA's inclusive insurance business, AXA Emerging Consumers, which distributes insurance products to low-income populations in emerging markets. The business became AXA EssentiALL in 2024 when it expanded to European markets.

She has been awarded the Intrapreneur of the Year prize by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and the first Women in Insurance Award by the Geneva Association.

For listeners interested in reading Garance's new book Middle Classes cannot be left behind: A call to action, you can purchase a copy here:

• Amazon US (EN) 
• Amazon France (EN) 

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

Smallholder farmers are the backbone of Africa's agricultural sector, producing 80% of the region's food supply. In this episode, we met with Tim Strong, Head of Agricultural Finance for Opportunity International to discuss how financial inclusion can be a vehicle for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve their goals. 

Guest: 

Timothy Strong, Head of Agricultural Finance at Opportunity International USA

The episode covered:

• The $170 billion annual financing gap facing smallholder farmers
• The role of smallholders in producing 80% of food supply in low-and middle-income nations
• How Opportunity International's network of 1,347 Farmer Support Agents (FSAs) has connected over 280,000 smallholder farmers with vital support
• The GROW Strategy for empowering women in agriculture, who make up 80% of the agricultural workforce in low-income countries
• Innovation through UlangiziAI chatbot - providing instant agricultural advice in English and Chichewa
• Climate resilience and economic challenges facing smallholder farmers
• Blended finance models to de-risk agricultural investments

Tim Strong

Timothy Strong serves as the Head of Agriculture Finance for Opportunity International. In addition to managing a diverse portfolio of agriculture finance products and services throughout Africa, he has spearheaded Opportunity’s efforts to implement and mainstream gender-inclusive services to empower women in farming. Tim is originally from Northern California and has worked in Southern and Eastern Africa since 2005.

Before joining Opportunity, Tim worked with a Silicon Valley start-up coordinating Lean and Kaizen project management, the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Services, the U.S. Peace Corps, the Clinton Foundation, and several commercial farms. He received a Bachelor in Science in biochemistry and plant physiology from the University of California at Davis, and he holds a master’s degree in environmental policy and an MBA in operations management from Middlebury College. He lives with his family in Lilongwe, Malawi.

For further information on the initiatives discussed in the episode, visit the following links:

• Opportunity International Agricultural Finance - Website
• Ulangizi AI Chatbot - NVIDIA Developer Blog
• AI is helping the worlds poorest farmers improve yields - Bloomberg Article

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin at SIJ Media.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

The adoption of digital financial services, or DFS has created significant impact for underserved communities across the world. The United Nations states that inclusive digital financial services have allowed individuals to store and increase savings, cope with unexpected economic shocks, access social benefits more cheaply, and make investments in economic opportunities that can lead them out of poverty.

 However, whilst the adoption of DFS has the potential for transformative impact, digital financial literacy is a critical topic that needs to be addressed to ensure that individuals can use these platforms and tools safely. 

In Episode 7 of the Financial Inclusion Unlocked podcast, we met leading experts to discuss the topic in more detail and learn how GSMA and Visa are collaborating on a new Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) initiative in Kenya and Senegal.

Guests:

- Panos Loukos, Director - Financial Inclusion at GSMA

- Jenelle Harris, Head of Financial Education at Visa

The episode covered:

• Introduction to Digital Financial Services
• The Role of GSMA in expanding Digital Financial Literacy
• Visa's Commitment to Financial Education
• Collaboration in Kenya and Senegal
• Localization and Cultural Relevance in Content Delivery
• Gamification and Incentives

Panos Loukos:

Panos is Director, Financial Inclusion for the GSMA Mobile Money and AgriTech programmes. He leads GSMA’s partnership with Visa that has the objective to develop mobile-enabled financial education and drive scale among the unbanked and underserved in low- and middle-income countries. Panos also leads AgriTech’s insights function and is responsible for developing and delivering the programme’s learning agenda. Before joining the GSMA in 2015, Panos spent several years in leading analyst and consultancy firms with a special focus on mobile operators’ digital strategies. Panos holds a Master’s degree in Plant Science from Imperial College London and an MBA degree from the University of Manchester.

Jenelle Harris:

Jenelle is an Atlanta-based social impact strategist leading Visa’s Financial Education program. Prior to joining Visa, Jenelle led consulting teams as a Senior Manager with The Bridgespan Group, a social sector advisory firm. Driven by her commitment to contributing to a more just and equitable world, Jenelle began her career in education, including several years as a middle school teacher. She received her MBA from UC Berkeley Haas.

For further information on the initiatives discussed in the episode, visit:

GSMA Resources:

• Mobile Money Program
• Mobile for Development

Visa Financial Education Resources:

• Practical Money Skills: 
• Practical Business Skills

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

When climate disasters strike, the world's most vulnerable communities often face devastating financial losses. In an era of increasing climate risks, traditional disaster response isn't enough. Communities need financial solutions that put them in control of their recovery.

In Episode 6 of the Financial Inclusion Unlocked Podcast, we met with Nilesh Prakhash, Co-Director of the Global Shield against Climate Risks, to explore how locally led Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance solutions, or CDRFI, are increasing resilience.

Nilesh shares his extensive experience in climate finance, explains the concept of CDRFI, the importance of pre-arranged financing, and the inclusive in-country processes that the Global Shield deploys to engage various stakeholders in assessing financial protection gaps in climate-vulnerable countries.

Nilesh highlights successful examples, particularly the implementation of Ghana's tailored support package, including the recent payout of a drought insurance policy, and outlines the challenges and opportunities for local stakeholders within the Global Shield framework.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in February 2025. Therefore, some of the content from the episode may have changed at the time of release. For the most up-to-date information on the work of the Global Shield, visit the website and follow the Global Shield on LinkedIn. The initiative is no longer active on X.

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

The way that we view and define financial inclusion continues to evolve. Not only is financial inclusion measured on purely “access” but on how it can be a vehicle to accelerate the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In this episode, we meet with Sophie Sirtaine, the Chief Executive Officer of CGAP, to discuss what the future of financial inclusion looks like.

CGAP is an international partnership housed in the World Bank Group, dedicated to promoting inclusive financial ecosystems that enable a green, resilient, and equitable world for all.  

She shared crucial insights on the new Financial Inclusion 2.0 initiative, how financial inclusion can build resilience against economic and climate shocks, and the potential of digital micro-pension schemes. 

Episode 5 Guest:

- Sophie Sirtaine, Chief Executive Officer at CGAP

The episode covered:

• Sophie's Career Overview
• The changing definition of Financial Inclusion
• How financial inclusion can build resilience against economic and climate shocks
• CGAP’s Financial Inclusion 2.0 Initiative
• The potential of digital micro-pension schemes
• Advice for innovators working on financial inclusion

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

From Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to ROSCAs and Cuchubales, community-based financial groups have a long history of empowering individuals. Whether it’s for personal development or economic resilience, saving groups have been a cornerstone of financial inclusion for centuries.

 In this episode, we met with Jeff Ashe, a financial inclusion expert, author and lecturer with over 45 years experience in the sector. Jeff was previously a Senior Associate Director at Accion International, Executive Director at Working Capital, Director of Community Finance at Oxfam America and is now both the Executive Director at Grassroots Finance Action and an Adjunct Associate Professor lecturing on microfinance and financial inclusion at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

The episode covered:

• Overview and History of Saving Groups
• Jeff's transition from working in microfinance to saving groups
• Impact of Oxfam America's Save for Change programme
• 9 Principles for a Saving Group Initiaitive
• Digitisation of Saving Groups
• Backyard Bankers in the USA
• Featuring Cindy, Saving Group Leader

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

Uganda is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with over 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers in the country. For those arriving in Uganda, accessing basic financial services has been incredibly difficult due to a lack of legal documentation, collateral and inadequate banking infrastructure. 

In this episode, we met with two leading experts representing Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited (OBUL) and Opportunity International UK (OIUK).

Guests:

- Amos Bonna, Chief Relationship Officer at Opportunity Bank Uganda Ltd

- Noah Ssempijja, Country Lead Refugee Financial Inclusion Programme at Opportunity International UK

The episode covered:

• Barriers for refugees in the country in accessing financial services
• Collaboration between OIUK and OBUL
• How OBUL opened their first branch in a refugee settlement
• How the bank serves refugees in settlements and urban areas
• How the bank customise its products to cater to the needs of refugees?
• Delivering financial literacy trainings

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

With the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increasing, Small Island Developing States (SIDs) are bearing the brunt of climate change, facing a growing number of threats including cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels. For instance, Fiji alone has seen devastating impacts from cyclones like Cyclone Winston in 2016, which the World Bank stated caused over $1.4 billion in damage—around 20% of the country’s GDP.

As communities in Small Island Developing States experience these challenges firsthand, climate risk insurance is emerging as a potential tool to help families and local businesses recover more quickly and build resilience.

In this episode, Jack met with industry experts to learn about how parametric insurance can be deployed and also learnt about PICAP (the Pacific Insurance Climate Adaptation Programme).

Guests:

• Matt Genazzini, Executive Director at Microinsurance Network
• Krishnan Narasimhan, Lead Specialist CDRFI at United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
• Sinja Buri, Team Lead Climate Risk Finance Solutions at Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, housed at UNU-EHS
• Felichya Whippy-Khan, Product Owner Parametric Insurance at Tower Insurance in Fiji.

Learn more about the Cyclone Insurance cover discussed with Felichya in the episode here

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin.

Connect with host Jack Farren on Linkedin or jack@sijmedia.com

In the first episode of the new Financial Inclusion Unlocked podcast, Jack met with Thomas Yann Piveteau, Financial Sector Specialist at The World Bank to learn about Project FASTT. Thomas  explained the objectives of the project, which aims to develop fast payment systems globally. The discussion covers the benefits of these systems, the role of central banks, challenges in implementation, and the comparison between fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Thomas also highlights the global adoption of fast payment systems and future trends in the payment landscape.

Check out the article mentioned in the episode on Fast Payment Systems vs CBDCs by World Bank and BIS here 

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is a podcast on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs. This show is produced by SIJ Media, and Series 1 is sponsored by SCBF.

Join our community and access exclusive content for this episode on Linkedin

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is launching on 24th March!!

The new podcast series is on a journey to learn how we can unlock the potential of financial inclusion as an enabler for the 17 UN SDGs.

From the heights of Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains to the islands of Fiji, we're uncovering stories of breakthrough solutions covering topics from parametric insurance protecting communities against cyclones to innovative solutions empowering refugee entrepreneurs and instant payments.

Financial Inclusion Unlocked is hosted by Jack Farren, a social entrepreneur in the financial inclusion sector that is passionate about amplifying these stories.

This show is produced by SIJ Media (www.sijmedia.com), and our first 10-episode series is sponsored by the Swiss Capacity Building Facility (www.scbf.ch)

Follow "SIJ Media" on Linkedin for daily highlights and for the chance to take part in our competitions and giveaways.

 The Full Episode List in Series 1 is below:

• Thomas Yann Pivetau, Financial Sector Expert, World Bank Group (Episode 1) Krishnan Narasimhan, Lead CDRFI Specialist, UNCDF (Episode 2)
• Sinja Buri, Team Lead Climate Risk Finance Solutions, MCII (UNU-EHS) (Episode 2)
• Felichya Khan, Product Owner Parametric Insurance Tower Insurance Fiji (Episode 2)
• Matthew Genazzini, Executive Director, Microinsurance Network (Episode 2)
• Amos Bonna, Chief Relationship Officer, Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited (Episode 3)
• Noah Ssempijja, Country Lead Refugee Financial Inclusion Programme, Opportunity International UK (Episode 3)
• Jeff Ashe, Adjunct Associate Professor, Columbia University (Episode 4)
• Sophie Sirtaine, CEO, CGAP (Episode 5)
• Nilesh Prakhash, Co-Director, Global Shield Against Climate Risks (Episode 6)
• Panos Loukos, Director Financial Inclusion, GSMA (Episode 7)
• Jenelle Harris, Head of Financial Education, Visa (Episode 7)
• Tim Strong, Head of AgFinance, Opportunity International (Episode 8)
• Garance Wattez-Richard, Founder and CEO, AXA EssentiALL (Episode 9)
• Lillian Nassanga Musoka, Co-Founder and COO, Emata (Episode 10)
• Maren Hald Bjørgum, Chief Communications Officer, Emata  (Episode 10)
• Kifula Collins, Field Officer, Agri Evolve (Episode 10)