by Amira Berrada - Africa, Regulation -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bankers of Kenya, Tanzania Promote Africa Mobile Financial Services Policy Initiative

The governors of the central banks of Kenya and Tanzania recently called for policy and regulatory efforts to encourage the use of mobile financial services (MFS) throughout Africa.

The announcement was made at the conclusion of the Mobile Financial Services conference held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and is part of a larger initiative launched at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum in Mexico in 2011 known as the Africa Mobile Financial Services Policy Initiative. Intended to engage members to make measurable commitments towards implementing new policies and regulations regarding MFS, AMPI has been described as “the next step in the evolution of financial inclusion policy development”, by Bank of Tanzania Governor Benno Ndulu [1].

In order to support this initiative, the MFS Working Group of AFI will share knowledge on the subject and best practices from other AFI members. AMPI will work with international standard-setting bodies, development partners and the private sector on a set of goals that will be detailed over the next six months.

Amira Berrada, Research Associate

About Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI): The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) is a Thailand-based network of financial policymakers from developing and emerging economies that aims to increase access to financial services for poor people. AFI uses a “peer-to-peer” model that enables member institutions to share knowledge and identify policy solutions for their home countries. AFI also provides grants to members to help support policy implementation. As of 2011, AFI reports having member institutions from approximately 70 countries.

Sources and Resources:

[1] AFI Press Release provided to MicroCapital: African Central Bank Leaders Call for Regional Policy Initiative on Mobile Financial Services

MicroCapital Universe Profile for Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=All…

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-in…

MicroCapital.org story, October 12, 2009, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Gates Foundation Gives USD 35m to Alliance of 64 Countries to Train Central Bankers, Funds Managed by German Aid Agency GTZ” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-story-gates-foundation-gives-us…

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/

 

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Amira joined MicroCapital while working at Export Development Canada (EDC) as a Credit Insurance Underwriter. Amira holds a Bachelor degree in International Business and Finance from Concordia University in Montreal. While completing her bachelor degree, Amira spent a semester in France and upon graduation, three months in India working with non-governmental agencies, political and spiritual groups for various socioeconomic initiatives such as the advancement of women. While travelling to different cities and rural areas in India, Amira was touched by the poverty she witnessed and was dedicated to finding a way to intertwine her business interests with her passion for development. She hopes this internship in microfinance will provide the framework to integrate an element of development into her professional career as well as positively contribute to the field of microfinance. Amira speaks English, French, and Spanish fluently and has conversational knowledge in Portuguese and Arabic. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants such as molecular gastronomy, restaurants made out of ice and Nicaraguan meals wrapped in banana leaves. Most of all, she loves to travel with loved ones.