LAPO

Financial Literacy

Good money management is critical for meeting day-to-day needs, dealing with life cycle events and unexpected emergencies, taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, and planning for the future.

LAPO is actively engaged in the financial literacy training of members of the public to enable them achieve financial stability. This is in recognition of the fact that financial illiteracy often results in poor financial choices with negative consequences on the financial well-being of the individual. Under the programme, beneficiaries are empowered with the knowledge and skills to manage their financial resources effectively. This includes ability to develop a long-term vision and planning for the future, appropriate decisions about investing, insurance, budgeting, savings culture, retirement and the discipline to use the skills daily.

Goal

Strengthen the capacity of small and medium entrepreneurs to succeeds in business.

Objectives

To support the target group to make better expenditure, savings and investment decisions;
To enable the target group to achieve their financial goals
To promote economic decision-making capacity of participants

Target

Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in target areas.

Content of Training

1. Basic principles of money management

Assessing your financial situation
Setting financial goals
Distinguishing between needs and wants
Assessing your financial ‘personality’ or ‘style

2. Managing cash flow

Making a financial plan
Developing a budget
Implementing budget
Spending wisely
Building assets
Housing, land, property, and other physical assets
Investing in a business
Protecting assets

3. Dealing with life cycle events

Marriage
Household formation
Birth
Children’s education
Retirement/old age
Death

4. Interfacing’ with formal and informal financial institutions

Saving. Opening a savings account; setting savings goals
Borrowing. Knowing when to borrow; risks associated with borrowing money; comparing loan terms and conditions; calculating interest and managing debt
Insurance. Understanding what it is

5. Dealing with special challenges

Illness of a family member
Death of a family member
Own illness
Extending help to other families
Divorce or family breakdown
Job loss
Natural disasters/calamities

6. Financial decision making processes

Joint decisions
Independent decisions

7. Planning for the future

Investments
Old age/retirement
Death

8. Earning money

Money making ideas
Looking for a job (paid employment)
Starting and managing your own business
Career planning

Methodology

Questions and answers
Small group discussions
Lecture and discussions
Exercises
On- site training