Review of Fintech Strategies for Financial Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Krish Chetty, Jaya Josie, Babalwa Siswana, Ephafarus Mashotola, Kim Kariuki, Chernay Johnson, David Saunders, Herman Smit, Shenglin Ben, Zheren Wang, Edward Brient, Wenwei Li, and Man Luo

Abstract

Low-income consumers in developing economies have limited access and low sustained usage of financial services. Fintech provides an opportunity to promote the financial inclusion of low income households in developing countries, whilst recognising the drivers of financial inclusion. Greater financial inclusion can be a catalyst for eradicating poverty, and for developing the small business sector. Fintech must include both access and usage of financial services focusing on affordability, appropriateness, financial literacy, regulations and fair competition. This policy brief presents findings of a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey that studied the impact of Fintech for financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa.