FINPOWER was set out to achieve the following objectives: 1. To equip women with sustainable financial skills to empower informed decision-making, enhance financial management, and boost their confidence. 2. To reduce the gender gap in financial literacy across partner countries through targeted training and innovative learning approaches. 3. To familiarize women with contemporary financial topics. 4. To enhance the capacity of adult education institutions to deliver innovative, engaging, and accessible digital learning experiences. 5. To design and pilot innovative, needs-based training programs, including a competence matrix, microlearning modules, and a sustainable finance academy. 6. To improve the competencies of adult education staff in using digital tools and delivering effective, customized training for women. 7. To develop adaptable policy recommendations and resources to extend the project’s impact across Europe. By achieving these objectives, FINPOWER aimed to empower women, promoted inclusivity in financial education, and fostered sustainable growth by creating tailored learning opportunities, innovative tools, and supporting adult education institutions in adapting to digital transformation.
The FINPOWER project addressed critical and persistent challenges in financial literacy, particularly the gender gap, which remains a significant issue across Europe. Women often face unique financial challenges due to earning less, saving less, and living longer than men, yet are responsible for similar or higher living expenses. These factors, compounded by the lack of targeted financial education and tools, place women at a significant disadvantage in financial decision-making and planning for long-term security. Key needs identified included: - Addressing finacial knowledge gaps - bridging the significant financial literacy gap between men and women, particularly in Austria, Italy, Portugal, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia. - Developing targeted programs - creating educational programs tailored to women’s specific financial needs, including sustainable finance and digital skills. - Innovating digital tools - expanding access to modern, user-friendly digital tools in adult education, a necessity highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. - Boosting financial confidence - strengthening women’s financial confidence and decision-making abilities to enable equitable societal participation and economic empowerment.