Tanzania’s journey towards enhancing access and usage of formal financial services to the majority of the population started in the early 1990s, following the comprehensive reforms in the financial sector that began from 1991.

An evaluation of financial inclusion progress conducted through demand surveys in 2006 and 2009 (FinScope) revealed that in spite of all the efforts of financial sector reforms by 2009, only 17% and 27% of adults in the formal and informal sectors, respectively, were financially included, leaving out 56% of adults totally excluded from financial services.

This case study explores Tanzania’s experience on the coordination approach, which played a pivotal role in leapfrogging access and usage of financial services by the majority of adult population in the country.