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About the Webinar

Technology has the potential to improve the scale, sustainability, and impact of Savings Groups. A recent market survey conducted by the SEEP Network identifies over 20 technologies used by Savings Groups and diverse sector stakeholders. These tools include management information systems, mobile applications, information, and communications technology, and other audio-visual tools – and facilitate a wide range of activities like group mobilization and training, monitoring and results measurement, and access to financial and non-financial services.

Uptake, however, remains low: information about available offerings is not easily accessible to potential users; the ability of technology service providers to reach potential users is limited; and a lack of understanding of the potential benefits, requirements, and risks associated with specific technologies restricts their effective development and adoption.

Join us for the official launch of the Savings Groups Technology Toolkit. The digital toolkit provides an overview of the leading and emerging technologies in the sector. It aims to facilitate relationships between technology service providers and potential users, and accelerate the uptake of appropriate technologies.

The webinar provided an introduction to the toolkit, as well as presentations by featured technology service providers, including Exuus and Media365.

Moderator

Eloisa Devietti

Eloisa is co-facilitator of SEEP's Savings-Led Working Group (SLWG). She is responsible for facilitating learning initiatives and innovation related to savings-led methodologies. She has led the development of industry learning products such as The Program Quality Guidelines and the SEEP Network’s Savings Groups Technology Toolkit. Previously, Eloisa worked as Program Advisor at Oxfam America where she was involved in Savings Groups program design and research, mostly in Central America. She is currently Senior Program Officer at World Education, where she manages an OVC grant portfolio for Tanzania and Malawi.

Speakers

Wes Wasson, DreamStart Labs

Wes Wasson is CEO and Co-Founder of DreamStart Labs, a social impact startup that builds mobile technology to help people in the developing world achieve their dreams of a better life. Prior to DreamStart Labs, Wes spent more than 20 years in executive and board member roles at successful internet tech companies. In 2010, he was voted "Top Executive Leader in Silicon Valley" by a survey of San Francisco Bay Area employees. In addition to his tech industry background, Wes and his co-founder, Henrik Esbensen, spent several years running a successful microfinance non-profit in Africa, where they learned the opportunities and challenges of working in the developing world first-hand. They founded DreamStart Labs in 2016 to focus full-time on developing FinTech solutions for Savings Groups.

Fred Phiri, Media365

Fred Muthandeni Phiri is an award-winning Zambian filmmaker, media and entertainment professional with over 19 years experience working across music and entertainment, print, radio, TV, live events, marketing, and communication. He is the co-founder of Elixur Integrated Media, a multimedia production and marketing consultancy company, and Media 365, cause-related communication and creative agency. In addition, he has produced numerous multimedia integrated campaigns, corporate videos, documentaries, TV commercials, and training videos for organisations including UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, Africa Development Bank, Africa Exim Bank, Cavmont Bank, Financial Services Deepening Zambia (FSDZ), World Vision, MTV Staying Alive Foundation and MTV Africa, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

This webinar was hosted by the SEEP Network in partnership with FSD Africa, the Mastercard Foundation and Itad.