Podcast: A journey with changemakers in inclusive finance and social entrepreneurship #8
EPISODE 8: CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH RAYMOND SERIOS AND SYREL APLAON
Discover the podcast: Episode 8
Welcome to our podcast series
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation continues its podcast series featuring stories of Grameen family leaders who are reshaping the landscape of inclusive finance and social business worldwide. In this eighth episode, we meet Raymond Patrick Serios and Syrel Z. Aplaon, respectively responsible for administration and strategic projects, and director of the accounting and finance departments of the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF) in the Philippines, to explore how microfinance can become a tool for resilience in the face of climate challenges.
What you'll discover
Raymond and Syrel share the remarkable journey of the NWTF, Founded in 1989 to serve impoverished women in the province of Negros, this organization has successfully replicated the Grameen model, serving over 600,000 clients while professionalizing and institutionalizing to maximize its impact. Explore their innovative approach to the recurring climate shocks in the Philippines: a strategy combining immediate flexibility, preventative education, and tailored financial products. Learn how mutual trust and long-term support have enabled the NWTF to recover in less than eight months after Typhoon Haiyan, which had affected 55 to 60 % of their portfolio.
Key Highlights
Empowerment through microfinance How targeting poor women creates a multiplier impact within families and communities
Professionalization as the key to sustainability The importance of strengthening governance, policies and processes to ensure the sustainability of the long-term impact
Climate resilience at the heart of the strategy A holistic approach combining immediate response, education, insurance and tailored credit products to prepare customers for natural disasters
Trust as a foundation Demonstrating genuine kindness towards customers creates a natural repayment discipline and accelerates recovery after crises
Innovation in the face of challenges The use of emerging technologies such as parametric insurance and AI to predict and mitigate climate risks
A message to investors Microfinance is not charity; it is an investment in building sustainable and resilient communities.
Why this matters
The world is facing a convergence of crises: climate change, persistent poverty, and gender inequality. The Philippines, like many countries, is experiencing increasingly frequent and devastating climate shocks. Raymond and Syrel Their work shows us that inclusive finance is not simply an economic tool; it can be a lever for building the resilience of vulnerable communities. Their experience demonstrates that when women receive access to appropriate financial services and genuine support, they become the primary agents of their own resilience and that of their society.
Perfect for
Social entrepreneurs and impact creators, policymakers and public transformation actors, innovators in inclusive finance and climate adaptation, women entrepreneurs, sustainability-conscious impact investors, non-profit organization leaders, climate action advocates, and all those who believe that inclusive finance is a tool for systemic transformation in the face of climate challenges.
Key quotes
«"We don't have the complete solution, but we must be open and adapt. The fundamental principle is to ensure that customers and their families ultimately benefit."»
«"When customers understand and see that they can get immediate support and that you won't leave them behind, the refund is immediate. They see that we care about them, so they reciprocate."»
«"Don't be afraid. Take the risk. You're not just funding an investment, you're helping to build the community in which we operate."»
Listen now and be inspired by a leader who is truly making a difference.
Discover how Raymond and Syrel They transform climate challenges into opportunities for empowerment and resilience. Their testimony shows that microfinance, when authentic and adapted, is much more than a financial service: it is an act of solidarity and mutual trust.
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Transcription in French
Transcription in English
