Swisscontact established that access to finance remained a prerequisite for a successful and sustainable economy. Through its Inclusive Finance Programme (IFP), Swisscontact concluded that emphasis should not only be pegged on inclusive products and services that were accessible and affordable. Focus should also be placed on both the financial literacy of the population and on the competencies of the workforce who design and deliver these products to the population.
In 2005, Swisscontact undertook a diagnostic survey of the financial sector in East Africa. Based on the lessons learnt and specifically the fact that various types of products and services were offered by different financial institutions, the team put together a strategic plan aimed at guiding the project interventions over the next years. Partnerships were envisioned as the key to future project interventions. Understanding potential partners and their specific operational contexts remained crucial to the success of Swisscontact’s work. This programme implementation strategy was applied across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
2013 – 2016
2017 – 2020