Webinar

11
Dec
Mobile technology applications in agricultural finance: global trends and innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa

Friday, December 11, 2015

The Rural and Agricultural Finance and Investment Technical Network (RAFI-TN) is pleased to announce its next Webinar on Mobile technology applications in agricultural finance: global trends and innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa”. The webinar will be presented by Emilio Hernandez, on Friday, December 11th from 3pm to 4 pm CET. You can either access the webinar through this link or join the live discussion at FAO HQ, TCI meeting room (D534).

The application of mobile technology on the delivery of financial services in developing countries has been increasing, enabling greater outreach to the rural population. This webinar takes stock of recent global trends and discusses the potential and challenges faced by practitioners offering mobile financial services, particularly when targeting a clientele composed of poor rural households dependent on agriculture. The analysis presented illustrates the potential and challenges at the micro level, by discussing current work conducted by the FAO in Zimbabwe, where FAO’s food security program is facilitating the development of new products and processes within Steward Bank, a local bank with a strong focus on mobile financial services.

About the Presenter

Emilio Hernandez is currently Agricultural Finance Officer at the FAO. He has over 8 years of experience in the analysis of rural and agricultural financial markets in developing countries and in the implementation technical cooperation programmes that promote inclusive financial systems. In FAO he leads some of the Organization’s country interventions and policy research projects focused on facilitating agricultural risk management strategies that enable smallholder households to access a wide set of financial services. Prior to joining FAO, Mr. Hernandez held advisory and managerial positions at the UNIDO, Save the Children, and NETAFIM, a private agricultural technology company with global operations. He led the design of new collaboration models between financial institutions, private agribusinesses and smallholder organizations and has published its analysis in international peer review journals. His experience has concentrated in over 10 countries in Latin America and Africa. Mr. Hernandez holds a Ph.D. and a M.Sc. in agricultural economics from The Ohio State University and the University of Florida.