The Financial Inclusion for Last Mile Actors (FILMA) project has inaugurated a District Working Group (DWG) in Jasikan, Oti Region, marking a critical step towards reducing youth unemployment in rural Ghana.
The FILMA project, co-created by the Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with Temple Investments Limited, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), AV Ventures, and SEND GHANA, aims to benefit 100,000 young people aged 15 to 35 years across 18 districts in the Volta, Oti, Bono-East, and Northern Regions.
Mr. Joel Aweyam, Oti Regional Project Officer for SEND GHANA, outlined the roles of the various partners: Temple Investments Limited focuses on access to finance, CRS leads mobilization and capacity-building efforts, and AV Ventures facilitates market access. SEND GHANA plays a pivotal role in ecosystem development, advocating for policies and programs that enhance financial inclusion for young people, particularly vulnerable groups such as young women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr. Aweyam emphasized the importance of addressing systemic barriers to financial inclusion through a three-pronged approach: the Gender Model Family (GMF) framework at the community level to address gender imbalances, the District Working Group (DWG) for local advocacy and policy engagement, and the National Forum for Job Creation to influence broader policy changes.
The newly inaugurated DWG comprises representatives from key sectors, including the Departments of Agriculture, Social Welfare and Community Development, the Health Directorate, the Gender Desk, the National Youth Authority, and financial institutions such as rural and commercial banks. Other members include media representatives, credit unions, private pension providers, traditional authorities, faith-based organizations, and youth-focused groups.
The primary goal of the DWG is to foster financial inclusion for Last Mile Actors (LMAs), ensuring that marginalized youth and PWDs have access to resources and opportunities to improve their economic well-being. The Group will also champion policy reforms that benefit young entrepreneurs and small-scale farmers.
Additionally, the DWG will facilitate key FILMA initiatives such as the District Annual Youth Job Creator Awards and the Youth and Women in Agriculture Awards. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DWG and SEND GHANA will outline specific responsibilities for each stakeholder, ensuring accountability and commitment to the project’s objectives.
With a four-year implementation timeline, the FILMA project is poised to create lasting impact, empowering rural youth with financial access, business opportunities, and pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
