MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Alliance for Financial Inclusion Launches African Mobile Phone Financial Services Policy Initiative (AMPI)

The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), a Thailand-based network of financial policymakers from approximately 85 countries, recently launched the African Mobile Phone Financial Services Policy Initiative (AMPI), which will aim to address barriers to the “uptake of mobile financial services” in Africa. The intent is to do this by establishing effective policies for mobile financial services in each African country by following a model “facilitated through cooperation among policymakers and regulators, the private sector, development partners and research institutions”. AMPI elected Njuguna Ndung’u, the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, for a one-year term as AMPI Chair and Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Governor of the Central Bank of West African States, as Vice Chair.

Proposed activities for the first year of the initiative include a mapping of case studies “on policy and regulatory implications of new business models,” holding workshops and meetings to “facilitate interaction amongst AFI African members on MFS [microfinance services] related topics,” and “facilitating the advancement of research and studies on policy, regulation and supervision of” MFS. The initiative will also include an annual meeting to discuss the current state of MFS in Africa.

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources:

Alliance for Financial Inclusion: “African Mobile Phone Financial Services Policy Initiative (AMPI),” http://www.afi-global.org/african-mobile-phone-financial-services-policy-initiative-ampi

Alliance for Financial Inclusion: “Rationale for AMPI; African Leaders forum Rountable and AMPI Help Desk,” http://www.afi-global.org/sites/default/files/publications/rationale_for_ampi_by_governor_prof_ndulu.pdf

MicroCapital.org story, March 13, 2012, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Kenya, Tanzania Promote Africa Mobile Financial Services Policy Initiative,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-central-bankers-of-kenya-tanzania-promote-africa-mobile-financial-services-policy-initiative/

MicroCapital.org story, November 3, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL STORY: Alliance for Financial Inclusion’s Global Policy Forum Concludes with Signing of Maya Declaration on Financial Inclusion,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-alliance-for-financial-inclusion%E2%80%99s-global-policy-forum-concludes-with-signing-of-maya-declaration-on-financial-inclusion/

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