Tanzania’s Financial Ecosystem and the Need for Deepening Inclusion of Women and Youth

Globally, approximately 1.7 billion adults worldwide remain ‘unbanked,’ with women disproportionately represented among them

1. Researchers have extensively studied the opportunities and barriers for women and youth in accessing Recent studies in Africa have shed light on their financial marginalization and efforts to bridge these gaps by stakeholders, such as financial service providers, policymakers, and development partners. Women and youth play crucial roles in any nation’s socioeconomic advancement. Financial inclusion and access to financial services would enable investments in their health, education, and entrepreneurship
2. This would improve their ability to contribute productively to development. Conversely, neglecting to build an ever increasingly inclusive economy has previously had lasting detrimental effects on productivity, earning 1. Findex, 2017. potential, and contributions to broader developmental goals like poverty alleviation. Policymakers and regulators recognize the pivotal role of women and youth as drivers of economic growth. They have therefore consistently sought to foster a conducive regulatory environment for financial service providers to provide products and services, while also expanding opportunities for consumers to access and utilize them for enhancing their livelihoods.