On 6 November, AFI and the Barrier-Free Finance Initiative (BFFI) held a virtual peer-to-peer session on “Practical Tools for Policymakers on Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities”.
The event brought AFI members together with organizations of persons with disabilities, enabling policymakers to hear firsthand about the real-world challenges which disabled people face, and fostering dialogue and discussion around opportunities for inclusive reform.
The session featured testimonies from individuals with different types of disabilities:
- Morgan Maze (Indonesia), a self-advocate with Down syndrome, highlighted legal capacity barriers that prevent people with intellectual disabilities from opening bank accounts.
- Krissy Bisda (Philippines), a disability rights advocate with visual impairment, revealed the accessibility gaps and social stigma she faces when trying to access financial services.
- Mey Samith (Cambodia), a wheelchair user, shared how physical inaccessibility, policy gaps, and cultural attitudes limit access to loans, savings, and digital financial tools.
These stories were followed by responses from AFI members Khaled Bassiouny (Central Bank of Egypt) and Maame Saah (Bank of Ghana), guided by moderator Alison Thornburn, Co-Founder of BFFI.
The event also featured presentations by Paul Surreaux (Co-Founder, BFFI), Latu Sera (Reserve Bank of Fiji), and Kelvin Mulama (CEO of ShopOkoa and 3rd place winner of AFI’s 2025 Inclusive Fintech Showcase).
Watch a recording of the session below.