We are happy to share that today (January 21, 2023) a workshop on "Gender Responsive Financial Services" was organized at BIBM auditorium, Dhaka. The workshop was facilitated by BIBM and nominated representatives from all banks (commercial, public, and public-private), MFS, MFIs and journalists from different media houses were present. With funding support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has been implementing a 2.5 year research project on “Gender Gap in Financial Inclusion in Bangladesh (GGiFI)”. Besides conducting empirical research, one of the important activities of the project is to build the capacity of financial service providers and receivers. For this activity, BIBM has been contracted. Under the contract, BIBM will be facilitating 8 trainings with FS providers and receivers in different parts of Bangladesh.

Today’s workshop started with welcome notes by Md. Nehal Ahmed, Professor & Director [DSBM], BIBM, BIBM-CRD Study Team Member. After the welcome notes, Director General, BIBM & Advisor, BIBM-CRD Study Team Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman gave the introductory speech and inaugurated the workshop. On behalf of the CRD, Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, CEO, CRD, gave a brief presentation on GGiFI project. Following that Dr. Shah Md. Ahsan Habib, Professor, BIBM & BIBM-CRD Study Team Leader, gave a presentation on the background and objective of today’s workshop. At the second part of the workshop, there was an open discussion session which was jointly moderated by Dr. Shah Md. Ahsan Habib, Prof. Ayesha Banu, PhD (Project Director, GGiFI and Professor, DU) and Lila Rashid, PhD ( Co-PD and former ED, Bangladesh Bank).

The workshop aimed to understand different products and services of the banks, MFS and MFIs for women and challenges they face and potentials they see to design and deliver services. The workshop has provided valuable insights and practical strategies for promoting Gender-responsive financial services in Bangladesh. These will be helpful to finalize the training modules that are being designed by BIBM.