Digital Frontiers Institute (DFI), an organization that promotes continued professional development in digital finance, and Karandaaz Pakistan, a Section 42 company established to promote access to finance for small businesses through a commercially directed investment platform, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce The Digital Money Course’s Pakistan Community of Practice. The objective of this MoU is to build capacity to support the digitization of Pakistan’s economy. Digital Payments is a rapidly growing field in Pakistan. This growth presents new career opportunities and requires specialized skills and capacity.

The Digital Money course, an innovative 12-week online certificate course on digital payments, is offered in partnership with The Fletcher School at Tufts University. In Pakistan, The Digital Money Course will include biweekly face-to-face meeting via DFI’s Communities of Practice (CoP) Program. This program is well-suited for public and private sector professionals in the broader digital finance or FinTech space. Course content will cover core areas of digital payments and familiarize participants with a standard set of concepts and vocabulary, allowing them to effectively collaborate with other professionals in the emerging digital finance space.

Unlike the banking sector—which is formally recognized as a profession and supported by accreditation and training—there are limited capacity building opportunities in the realm of Digital Payments. Developing capacity and skills that can be applied towards digitization of the Pakistani economy will enable the country to effectively respond to the enormous business opportunity presented by digital financial services, as well as tap into its potential for deeper financial inclusion. This program will provide comprehensive training on digital money, covering key aspects of digital financial services and the payments ecosystem and value chain, mobile-based innovations, customer perspectives and marketing approaches, regulation, industry collaboration and disruption, thereby enabling industry professionals to develop a stronger understanding of digital finance in a structured manner.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a “certificate of completion,” issued by The Fletcher School. In addition, graduates of the course gain access to DFI’s global network, “Switch,” which grants access to continued professional development, peer-networking, mentorship and educational content.

The second cohort of the course will begin on 11th July 2016 and applications will close on 3rd June 2016.

The Digital Money Course is being offered at a discounted price of USD 3,000 per participant instead of USD 5,000. Scholarships are available for government organizations, non-profit entities and fintechs subject to availability of funds.

For further information on course modules, fee and enrolment in The Digital Money Course please view the online brochure here. To apply, please download the Application Form and submit completed application to CIDM@karandaaz.com.pk latest by June 3, 2016.

About Digital Frontiers Institute

The Digital Frontiers Institute provides a framework for continued professional development in digital finance through learning and certification, knowledge sharing, peer networking and mentorship programs. DFI’s mission is to build human capacity in digital financial services by equipping a new generation of FinTech professionals with the information, skills, and vision they need to guide society towards inclusive digital financial solutions. DFI is a not for profit initiative run as a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.