Barcelona, Spain - On February 26, Dr. Maura O'Neill, Chief Innovation Officer, for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will participate in a panel discussion on women’s inclusion in mobile financial services, during the GSMA mWomen Seminar at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. 

The panel discussion will emphasize how women in developing countries can play a greater role in mobile financial services and explore the critical role women play in household financial management.

During the Seminar, the winners of the GSMA mWomen Design Challenge (launched by USAID, GSMA, AusAID and Qtel Group at the Social Good Summit in September 2012) will be announced.  The Design Challenge aimed to redefine the smartphone user experience for resource-poor women in emerging markets.  In addition, a new study will be launched: “Unlocking the Potential: Women and Mobile Financial Services in Emerging Markets.  This study was supported by Visa as part of USAID’s mWomen Global Development Alliance.

The Mobile World Congress is hosted by the GSMA which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators with more than 230 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organizations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities.  The GSMA expects more than 70,000 participants to attend Mobile World Congress 2013.