RISE has recently developed the RISE Digital program in Cambodia. Can you give us a brief overview of the app-based learning program and the time required to complete it?
RISE Digital is a 6 to 8-month app-based learning program for workers and managers, both women and men, designed to increase their digital and tech literacy. Participants learn about health, financial literacy and gain tools for building harmonious relationships and managing stress. The program can be delivered in-person or online. The program is available in Khmer with support from GIZ.

What key areas does the RISE Digital Toolkit for worker focus on?
RISE Digital participants improve their ability to use digital tools, address health and hygiene issues and manage their finances more effectively. They learn stress management techniques and how to build harmonious relationships.

A recent survey of program participants in Cambodia showed that after completing the training, 100% of women and 95% of men workers were aware of modern family planning methods. 72% of women and 74% of men strongly agreed that money decisions should be made jointly (up from 31% and 37%).

And for managers?
Managers follow two modules: problem solving and creating harmonious workplace relations. The factories can embed these digital modules into managers’ training, even after the program has ended. 

Are the digital toolkits only aimed at the Cambodian sector or are they also transferable to other countries?
Before Cambodia, RISE delivered the program in Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Guatemala. Each time, RISE adapted and contextualized the Digital toolkits for workers and managers.

What are the expected outcomes for participants of the RISE Digital Toolkit program?
By upskilling women and men workers and managers, RISE Digital supports sustained change through an app-based program focused on several topics like health, financial resilience, and tools for building harmonious relationships and handling stress. The program promotes increased supplier ownership of workers’ health and wellbeing.

What is the purpose of the RISE Financial Health Digital Training Tools?
The RISE Financial Health Digital Training Tools (including videos, animation and audios) enhance workers' understanding of financial services and provides guidance in local languages on financial planning, budgeting and saving to improve resilience to economic shocks.  RISE has also developed a RISE Digital Wages Toolkit for Managers to support them to plan, prepare and deliver the transition from cash to digital wages. It is available in Khmer, Simplified Chinese and Bangla.

What topics are covered by the RISE Financial Health Digital Training Tools?
Through engaging films and animations adapted in the local context, workers learn how to improve their financial health and resilience. The modules cover digital financial services and products, financial management, budgeting, saving, responsible borrowing and talking about finances with family.

In what languages are the RISE Financial Health Digital Training Tools available?
RISE Financial Health Digital Training Tools for workers is available in Khmer, Vietnamese, Bengali and Arabic. We develop many videos with support from Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.

How can factories integrate the RISE Digital and Financial Health programs into their training sessions?
As part of the program delivery, RISE and its local implementing partners help participating factories develop guidelines to ensure the program’s sustainability. This enables factory management to continue investing in workers’ financial capability and digital learning on an ongoing basis, even after the program has concluded. Factories can also keep using the RISE training content, including posters and videos available for free on the RISE YouTube channel.

What are the future plans for expanding the RISE Digital and Financial Health programs?
RISE is going to launch the Financial Health program in Guatemala and Indonesia in 2024. Based on the demand of RISE members, the Digital program will also be expanded in new markets.