Women participation in Bangladesh's labor force has increased to 42.68% in 2022, up from 36.3% five years ago, according to a survey report conducted by the BBS released on 29 March 2023.

Despite contributing to household income, they have little or no role in making decisions about household financial matters. Their access to and control over the money they earn are very low because of their poor status in their families, and lack of experience, which results in low confidence levels. Usually, they hand over all their earnings to their husbands, or fathers, and have no say in decisions about how that money is spent. Further, the men in many of these families do not seem to know or will to plan and save.

Addressing the challenges, BNNRC has been implementing initiatives to enhance women’s status in the family and workplace to build their image and capacity as holders of knowledge through digital financial literacy and to build a solid digital cashless payment in line with mobile banking and digital financial services for propelling into the digital age.

Under these initiatives, BNNRC has been supporting community radios to develop radio content and organize a series of live discussions on varied issues including financial literacy, mobile financial services, online agent banking, and digital payment, Communication skills, problem-solving & and decision-making, and Time and Stress Management and provided training for radio broadcasters and volunteers.

https://bnnrc.net/c-4-building-capacity-of-rural-women-on-digital-financial-services-through-literacy/

• Rural Bangladesh , Bangladesh

The activities are to be implemented to aware and build the capacity of the community people, particularly youth women who are entering the job sector and also already employed aware of self-management, financial planning, mobile financial services, online agent banking, and digital payment, Communication skills, the benefits of savings, budgeting and the risks in their absence through series of radio programs, which is replicable in any community.

As community radio has always inspired the marginalized voice to share opinions to address political and social action. Besides, it would be used as a tool for both active and passive communication and outreach in worldwide. Besides, the Social Media Campaign through the radio’s Facebook page will act as a virtual platform for young people who have ideas to share on how to poverty reduction, and gender equality and provide financial education through building strong institutions and partnerships.

Through the initiatives, around 115 radio broadcasters and volunteers where 80 are women trained in financial literacy, mobile financial services, online agent banking, digital payment, Communication skills, problem-solving & and decision-making, and Time and Stress Management and they also practice in their lives so that their professionalism can grow and continue.

Besides the radio programs provided youth and youth women with tools and digital skills that generate evidence to support their demands and help them to identify and prioritize areas of investment.
The program operates inclusively, including relevant media stakeholders, communication experts, Civil Society Organizations, and government officers which ensures long-term empowerment building. The program also generated community-led priorities to inform policymakers and duty-bearers to make effective decisions regarding inclusive development.

Besides, linking the social media platform will ensure that the program will have a deep, sustainable and multiplying impact, where the indirect beneficiaries will exceed several thousand.

Through this intervention, WSIS values (Action line- C4) in Bangladeshi communities are strongly adhered to and promoted extensively. This is done through building the capacity of women and encouraging them as well as other community people to financial literacy, mobile financial services, online agent banking, and digital payment, as well as self–learning and decision-making in families and workplaces.