Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, French Development Agency Sign PHP 41.3 Million Grant to Support Financial Inclusion in the Philippines

​The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed a grant facility agreement of 700,000 Euros (around PHP 41.3 million) aiming at supporting the BSP to increase capacities for financial inclusion, especially among rural and women-owned enterprises.

The BSP was the first central bank in the world to establish a dedicated financial inclusion office in 2007. Since then, it has continuously nurtured an enabling regulatory environment and fostered multi-stakeholder cooperation for financial inclusion. A strategic thrust of the BSP is the development of an inclusive digital finance ecosystem that caters to the diverse and evolving needs of the broader population, especially in the agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors.

Aligned with BSP's strategic thrust and the global financial inclusion agenda, this grant will fund a technical assistance (TA) program to support BSP's efforts to leverage technology for the effective regulation of digital finance, promote digital financial literacy of rural and women-owned businesses, contribute to public policy dialogue on agricultural insurance.

'We welcome this maiden technical assistance program of the AFD for the BSP. This endeavor demonstrates our organizations' shared commitment to advance financial inclusion in the country through responsible digital innovations. The BSP looks forward to a fruitful collaboration with AFD as we implement the program in the next five years.' said Governor Diokno, head of the BSP.

For his part, AFD Country Director Laurent Klein welcomed the conclusion of this agreement with the BSP as the main supervisor and regulator of the Philippine financial system. 'In line with our organization's strategic objectives to support financial systems and fight social and economic inequalities, the project that will result from this cooperation will contribute to the country's efforts to promote access to quality financial services for all, including the most vulnerable part of the population,' Mr. Klein, AFD director in the Philippines, stated.

'France welcomes this new milestone in our bilateral relationship with the Philippines. We are keen to support the Government of the Philippines, through AFD, in strategic reforms towards digital transformation and inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to challenging situations, but also opportunities to leverage on digital technologies to improve financial sector services that would ultimately benefit Filipinos from all walks of life,' said French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz.

This grant complements the Inclusive Finance Development Program, a program which AFD has been supporting since 2019 alongside the Asian Development Bank (ADB), through a 100 million Euro sovereign policy-based loan to the Philippines. The IFDP contributes to the overall objective of inclusive growth and sustainable development in the country, by supporting financial inclusion efforts, especially those from the low-income and rural sectors. More specifically, its objectives are to contribute to the consolidation of the institutional and regulatory environment, the improvement of financial infrastructures and the capacity building of financial services providers, and the supervisors and regulators.

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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the central bank of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established on 3 July 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the New Central Bank Act of 1993. The BSP took over from Central Bank of Philippines, which was established on 3 January 1949, as the country's central monetary authority.

With the signing of Republic Act (RA) No. 11211 on 14 February 2019 amending the BSP's charter, financial inclusion and its complementary objectives of financial literacy and consumer protection became a mandate for the BSP. The amended charter states 'In the attainment of its objectives, the Bangko Sentral shall promote broad and convenient access to high quality financial services and consider the interest of the general public.' Financial inclusion is a strategic program of the BSP in recognition of its importance to uplift not only the welfare of many Filipinos, but also its significance to the overall economy of the country.​

The Agence Française de Développement (French Development Agency - AFD)

Agence Française de Développement (French Development Agency - AFD) implements France's policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France.

With our partners, we are building shared solutions with and for the people of the Global South. Our teams are at work on more than 4,000 projects in the field, in the French Overseas Departments and Territories, in 115 countries and in regions in crisis. We strive to protect global public goods - promoting a stable climate, biodiversity and peace, as well as gender equality, education and healthcare. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and the French people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Towards a world in common.

Contact: AFD - Charlotte Le Layo - Regional Communications Manager - [email protected] - +66 92 965 8549