In celebration of Canada’s International Development Week, Toronto Centre hosted a virtual executive panel on building financial resilience.

The discussion explored insights from the World Bank’s Global Findex 2025 survey, which shows that 79% of adults worldwide now have a bank account, up from just 50% in 2011. The speakers discussed how mobile technology and digital banking is increasing access low- and middle-income countries but emphasized access is only the first step. Financial inclusion requires strengthening the systems, policies, and consumer protections that lead to real financial resilience.

The speakers also provided practical insights for financial supervisors, including:

• How to collaborate with providers to enhance inclusion and resilience
• Strategies and tools supervisors can use to increase financial service uptake
• Approaches for individuals to save for education and health

Opening Remarks:

Barbara Curran, Director General, Social and Economic Development Programming Bureau, Global Affairs Canada

Panelists:

Leora Klapper, Lead Economist, Development Research Group, The World Bank

Mariela Zaldivar, Head, Market Conduct and Financial Inclusion, Peruvian Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Funds (SBS)

Rhodora M. Brazil-De Vera, Officer-in-Charge, Supervisory Policy and Research Department; Head, ESG Supervision and Surveillance Group, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Moderator:

Lindsay Wallace, Executive Director, FINCA Canada; Managing Director, Social Investment Strategies, FINCA International

Watch the virtual panel session here.

Read the transcript here.

Read their biographies here.

Écoutez le podcast en français ici.

Escuche el podcast en español aqui.