If harnessed properly, the growing availability and use of digital financial services worldwide provide unique capital building tools and resources for fighting poverty in countries and regions where there are significant barriers to accessing traditional financial services, particularly amongst marginalized and lower-SES groups.

Given the rapidly increasing adoption of the digitization of financial services globally, UNCDF recognizes the urgency of equipping Pacific Islanders with relevant digital and financial management skills so they can harness digital financial services (DFS) to the benefit, rather than detriment, of their financial health and well-being. A lack of infrastructure may limit the use of digital payment services in local economic transactions, but DFS remains an important financial management and savings tool for individuals and entrepreneurs.

To date however, efforts to improve digital and financial literacy and implement targeted interventions have been significantly challenged by a lack of updated DFL data in Pacific Island countries on which to base these efforts. With this in mind, UNCDF partnered with Tebbutt Research, a leader in market research in the Pacific, to conduct quantitative research in seven Pacific Island countries to measure levels of digital and financial literacy within each country.

The research explores experiences with traditional and digital financial services to-date in Papua New Guinea, in addition to assessing basic competencies in the areas of digitization and finance. Research findings will be used to develop and target appropriate interventions within the country, with a particular eye to developing interventions and improving digital financial competencies among women, MSMEs, migrant workers, and rural communities. The studies are intended to serve as a baseline from which future changes in competencies, access, and usage can be measured.

Explore DFLS findings for other Pacific Island Countries: