SAPM Dr. Sania Nishtar was invited to keynote the “International Webinar on Integration and Digitization of G2P Programs” in Indonesia. The webinar was hosted by the Ministry of National Development Planning, Republic of Indonesia. The event was attended by Indonesian central and regional policymakers, academia and research institutes, civil society organizations, development partners, and delegates from countries that have carried out similar transformations. The international webinar aimed to support the digital transformation process of social assistance programs’ payment in Indonesia and was intended to familiarize Indonesian policymakers with the international best practices of G2P payment program digitalization. The Indonesian official and development community in general wanted to learn about Pakistan’s recent progress in social protection using digital solutions and financial inclusion tools. Keynoting the meeting, Dr. Sania Nishtar outlined that financial and digital inclusion for 7 million individuals (90% women) is one of the seven, time bound outcome-based goals of Ehsaas. “We believe savings, payments, insurance, and credit have a significant impact on individuals’ abilities to escape poverty”, she said. Further adding, she shared, “Access to formal credit can help the poor break free from a cycle of debt that perpetuates poverty; digital and financial inclusion agenda and use of mobile phones are particularly relevant in this regard. We believe that women are more likely than men to invest in the health, education and wellbeing of their families.”
