#APSP2023 | Day 3 | Session 5A | Leveraging Digital Payment Systems for Social Assistance

#APSP2023 | Day 3 | Parallel Session 5A | Leveraging Digital Payment Systems for Social Assistance

The expansion of inclusive digital financial services, in tandem with digital and financial literacy for poor and vulnerable communities, is critical for the effective delivery of social assistance. Several issues continue to affect social assistance delivery payment systems in the Asia-Pacific region. Some of these include limited access to financial services; lack of digital infrastructure, including internet connectivity and mobile networks; insufficient interoperability between relevant systems; lack of digital ID systems; shortage of trained staff to manage social assistance programs and payment systems; digital literacy, inadequate monitoring and evaluation as well as insufficient funding.

This session invited experts to answer key questions such as : What are the key constraints to expanding digital financial services in our region? What opportunities exist to digitize social assistance payment systems? How should collaboration between the public and private sector look like in the delivery of social protection benefits?

Panelists:

1. Muhammad Tahir Noor, Additional Secretary, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Pakistan
2. Julius Gorospe, Assistant Secretary and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development , Philippines
19
3. Stephanie Diepeveen, Senior Research Fellow (Digital) Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
4. Cathlyn Dolor Pavia, Head for Public Sector and Partnerships, GCash

Moderator:
Lisette Cipriano, Senior Digital Technology Specialist (Financial Technology Services), Finance Sector Office, Sectors Group, ADB

_____________

_____________