Making Financial Services Accessible to Low-Income Populations Through Financial Education and Social Empowerment

With the support of SCBF, the microfinance institution—ASSILASSIME Solidarité— developed their project on the up-scaling of their digital services (B2W/W2B and SMS banking) and credit process digitalization. The project aims to expand ASSILASSIME’s services in the country and ease its clients’ access to their accounts, available services, and financial education.

This study was commissioned to understand how the project has impacted the target clients’ access and usage, their living conditions, and how the institutional objectives were met. It illustrates how digitalization can improve financial inclusion, customer experience, and operational efficiency for low-income populations and financial institutions. It also reveals the challenges and impacts of implementing B2W and W2B services, digitalizing saving and loan processes, and providing digital financial education. The study includes results, testimonials from women beneficiaries, and lessons learned from the project.