Financial inclusion survey highlights womens role in managing household finances [Video]

We have been tasked to design and implement a financial inclusion survey, which is aimed at improving understanding about people’s use of financial services in four provinces in eastern Indonesia – East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara.

The Survey on Financial Inclusion and Access (SOFIA)is a comprehensive survey on financial usage and access. Among many interesting findings from the survey, SOFIA data showed that women play a critical role as ‘hidden financial managers’ within households: even though assets, such as land and property, are still primarily owned by men, women perform important decision-making functions on the household’s finances. The survey revealed, for example, that more than 60% of women in the provinces surveyed make decisions about the management of household finances independently of their partners, and male spouses often attributed the function of budgeting and financial decision-making to their wives. Women are the ones who typically keep track of household income and …