The Human Safety Net and UNICEF develop financial literacy programme for disadvantaged families

The Human Safety Net and UNICEF have designed an innovative financial literacy programme for disadvantaged parents. Working with the education NGO Aflatoun International, the 10 training modules were initially tested in Italy and Indonesia and can now be scaled globally. 

photograhic credits UNICEF

By strengthening parenting skills through practical and easy-to-follow tips, The Human Safety Net is able to support responsive caregiving and Early Childhood Development (ECD), which are core elements of its For Families Programme. 

Financial literacy provides parents with practical tools to manage their resources so their children can grow up in a secure environment and the household can cope with emergencies.  Financially literate parents are also more likely to be able to afford opportunities that benefit their children. 

In Indonesia (West Papua), the pilot aims to reach 400 parents and 80 facilitators have already followed the training course. Master trainers from universities, as well as officials from the National Population and Family Planning Board, are using a mix of case studies and games in the programme’s different modules, which are delivered through easily accessible multimedia methods. 

In Italy, the different training modules were first made relevant to the local situation, after which the trainers were coached in how to deliver them. The Human Safety Net is now launching group sessions for parents. 

The aim of the programme is to shift from financial literacy to financial education, moving from a position of understanding to one of proficiency, and simultaneously to embed ECD and children's rights within financial education.

The financial literacy programme was developed thanks to donations from Generali employees through the company’s We SHARE scheme.