Tanzania Narrows the Financial Inclusion Gender Gap: A Case Study of Policy Change to Support Women’s Financial Inclusion

This report presents evidence that policy measures to increase financial inclusion need to be country-specific, based on each country’s gender gap and specific challenges and opportunities. To eliminate the persistent gender gap and expand access to financial services for both women and men, policies should be adapted and integrated in national financial inclusion strategies and other policy initiatives. 

This case study examines the experience of Tanzania, where there are promising approaches to gender-focused financial inclusion policies. Tanzania has made progress in closing the financial inclusion gender gap. Although financial inclusion for women was not articulated as a clear and explicit policy goal in the country’s 2013 National Financial Inclusion Framework, over the last two years the Framework has been evolving to support a more favorable financial environment for women.

Today, the Framework better articulates women’s financial inclusion as a policy goal, which the country explicitly attributes to engagement in AFI-sponsored dialogue. The regulatory framework for mobile money has been key to the success of the policy framework in Tanzania, and financial infrastructure has also fostered financial inclusion for women. As in other countries, the main challenge remains in expanding financial services to low-income women in rural areas.