Fellow - Andria Barrett
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Andria Barrett
Financial Inclusion Advocate & Community Builder
Andria Barrett is an advocate for financial inclusion with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations create environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued. She is the founder of the Diversity Agency, co-founder of The Banker Ladies Council, and director of the ROSCA Network, a Canadian organization that advocates for, educates, and supports ROSCA users. Her work focuses on helping women improve financial confidence and build savings through community-based systems.
Ambassador Project
Andria’s project explored whether members of ROSCAs (Rotating Savings & Credit Associations) were ready to adopt digital tools and move their savings circles online.
Known by many names across cultures, “pardna” in Jamaica, “susu” in Nigeria, “box-hand” in Guyana, and “stokvel” in South Africa, ROSCAs are long-standing community-based savings systems. Her research examined how digital technology could support these trusted financial practices while preserving their cultural and social foundations.
What Inspired Her Work
"I grew up in a family and community where ROSCAs/money circles were normal."
Growing up in a Jamaican family where “pardna” was used as a way to save money, Andria saw firsthand how these savings circles helped people stay disciplined with their finances and support one another in times of need.
Her goal is to protect this trusted tradition while exploring how technology can reduce costs, expand access, and make it easier for people to participate across borders.
Vision for the Future
"I believe that digital tools will help ROSCAs/money circles continue and grow, making it easier for friends, families, and communities to support each other financially even when they are spread across different countries."
She envisions a future where digital tools allow communities to continue participating in savings circles regardless of where they live, enabling friends, families, and communities to support one another financially even when they are spread across different countries.