WOCCU Economic Inclusion Project Introduces ‘The Practical Guide for the Financial Inclusion of the Refugee and Migrant Population’

LIMA, Peru— The USAID/World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Economic Inclusion Project in March introduced to more than 100 representatives of Peru’s financial sector a formal guide that will help them identify the types of assistance refugee and migrant populations need to access formal financial services, and the best practices to help facilitate their financial inclusion.

Executives from FENACREP, WOCCU’s direct member credit union association in Peru, and several other financial services’ associations were on hand for the launch of ”The Practical Guide for the Financial Inclusion of the Refugee and Migrant Population”, which includes specific information on:

• the types of identification documents refugee and migrant populations carry and the mechanisms for validating the information contained in them.
• ways to facilitate the design of strategies that promote the financial inclusion of refugees and migrants in Peru.
• The identification of sound practices currently implemented by financial service providers who work with these populations.

In the last decade, Peru has shown a commitment to promote financial inclusion through its National Financial Inclusion Policy and its Multisectoral Strategic Plan. The position stated in the National Financial Inclusion Policy is that more inclusion in the formal financial system will lead to improving the economic well-being of the population, promote economic development and financial stability, and provide for a more competition and productivity.

Danielle Spinard, Director of the Regional Office of Health and Migration for USAID Peru, spoke at the event, along with Armando Garcia Chunga, Peru’s National Superintendent of Migrations, and Mariella Zaldivar, Assistant Superintendent of Market Conduct and Financial Inclusion of Peru’s SBS.

The Economic Inclusion Project also plans to introduce a second version of “The Practical Guide for the Financial Inclusion of the Refugee and Migrant Population” in Ecuador.

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 87,914 credit unions in 118 countries serve 393 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.