At the recent Leaders’ Roundtable meeting of AFI’s Arab Region Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (ARFIPI), held during the 2025 AFI Global Policy Forum in Namibia, members endorsed a project to create a first-of-its-kind regional data platform.

Ever since a 2024 member survey flagged the need for common financial inclusion indicators and data, ARFIPI’s Expert Group on Financial Inclusion Policy (EGFIP) has been working with AFI Data Portal focal points and AFI’s Financial Inclusion Data & Impact Working Group to conceptualize an Arab Region data platform. A task force created for this purpose is being led by the Central Bank of Egypt, with representation from the Central Bank of Iraq, Central Bank of Mauritania, Jordan Payments and Clearing Company​, Central Bank of Jordan, Bank Al-Maghrib​, and Palestine Monetary Authority​​.

At their meeting in Namibia, ARFIPI Leaders endorsed ARFIPI’s 2025-2027 workplan, which includes deliverables on financial inclusion strategy, consumer protection, digital financial services, Islamic finance and SME finance. Members also welcomed and inaugurated the Central Bank of Egypt as Chair of the ARFIPI Leaders’ Roundtable.

You can learn more about ARFIPI’s members and activities on its webpage.