On 16 May, Banque Centrale de Mauritanie launched its first National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), setting the objective of achieving a financial inclusion rate of 63% by 2028.  

“The National Financial Inclusion Strategy aims to develop an inclusive, flexible and sustainable financial sector, to increase financial awareness, and to promote inclusive green finance for all, in particular for young people, women, rural populations, forcibly displaced people, and small businesses,” said the country’s Prime Minister, Mohamed Ould Bilal Messoud. The Prime Minister was opening a high-level event held by the Banque Centrale de Mauritanie to mark National Financial Inclusion Day, celebrating the launch of the NFIS, and attended by representatives from Mauritania’s Government and the country’s financial sector, from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, and from international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.  

“Today’s event has as its theme ‘Financial Inclusion for accelerated growth and shared prosperity’, which reflects the importance we attach to ensuring appropriate conditions to guarantee access for all citizens to the financial products and services necessary to achieve their aspirations,” said Mohamed-Lemine Dhehby, Governor of Banque Centrale de Mauritanie. “At the same time, it reflects our country’s continued commitment to promoting stability, sustainability and inclusion for common well-being.” The Governor also noted that “financial inclusion is as important as financial stability for the country.” 

The event featured the five pillars of the NFIS, through sessions discussing the role of financial inclusion in economic and social development, fintech and central bank digital currencies, the regulator’s role in promoting financial inclusion, financial education and consumer protection, and Inclusive Green Finance.