Aya Hijazi

Aya Hijazi

Financial Inclusion Specialist, Payment Systems, Domestic Banking and
Financial Inclusion Department, Central Bank of Jordan

Aya Hijazi is a Financial Inclusion Specialist at the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) since 2020, specializing in inclusive finance policy development. She has played a key role in shaping and implementing the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), which ensures equitable access to financial services for all citizens and businesses. A particular focus has been the formulation of the 2023-2028 NFIS, which addresses the needs of vulnerable populations across four pillars: savings, finance, insurance, and payment & transfer services.

Aya leads initiatives to increase the formal saving rates in Jordan, spearheading the savings pillar of the strategy. This involves identifying barriers to formal saving, setting clear objectives, and developing solutions through collaboration with stakeholders. Aya also manages the monitoring and evaluation framework to track the strategy’s success.

In addition to strategy development, Aya is responsible for gathering and analyzing financial inclusion data to inform evidence-based policy decisions. She has contributed to various studies, including the “Savings in Jordan” research, which identified challenges in formal saving practices. This led to the “Save to Prosper” initiative, aimed at promoting financial literacy and a savings culture. Aya facilitated and managed this initiative, which encourages financial resilience across Jordan’s diverse population.