Increasing Women’s Financial Inclusion and Closing the Women’s SME Credit Gap In Zambia Through Enabling Financial Policy and Regulation

Zambia is making positive progress in increasing women’s financial inclusion, successfully reducing the formal gender gap from 9.9 percent in 2015 to 5.8 percent in 2020.

Zambia has a strong regulatory framework to support women’s financial inclusion and access to finance. There is a Gender Equity and Equality Act, a national financial inclusion strategy, a national financial education strategy, a gender division under the office of the president, and more.

This case study takes an in-depth look at women’s financial inclusion, challenges faced, access to finance, successes to date, and the opportunities for even more progress in the future.