Microfinance Focus, July 15, 2011: Bringing together development practitioners, government representatives and donors for a comprehensive overview of financial education in Africa, Opportunity International along with the Financial Education Fund will be hosting a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21- 22, July 2011.

Themed, ʻFinancial Education - An Opportunity for All?ʼ, the conference will showcase innovative financial literacy programmes designed for poor people. It will gather delegates representing financial education initiatives from Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Zambia and South Africa.

The conference aims to better understand the effectiveness of current education strategies and to gather best practice in providing financial education to poor people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Conference sessions will profile existing education projects, promote new education tools and tackle hot topics including the importance of technology in promoting financial literacy.

“Financial education is one of the most important challenges facing Africa today,” said conference co-host Francis Pelekamoyo, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (Central Bank) and Board Chair, Opportunity Partners in Africa. “As more people gain access to basic financial services, it is essential that we work hard to train them to manage their money well. With the right financial tools and skills, people can to step out of poverty by themselves.”