International Development Grant

Improving Access to Financial Services

Project Number: CA-3-D000407001

Status: Closed

Country/Region:

Tanzania 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $15,098,626.00

Start Date: March 31, 2014

End Date: December 31, 2020

Duration: 6.8 years

Project Description

This project aims to increase access to financial services in agricultural and remote areas for small-scale enterprises and poor women and men in Tanzania. It provides capital and technical guidance to financial service providers such as banks and to supervisory and regulatory institutions such as the Ministry of Finance. The program works with communities government and the private sector to develop enabling policy and regulations create and expand appropriate and accessible products and services and train targeted beneficiaries on the use of financial services. It supports the development and expansion of innovative products with scaling up potential such as mobile banking. Canada and other donors jointly provide support to this program which is expected to help improve access to financial services for approximately 2 million poor women and men and 35 000 small businesses. This phase builds on the results of the previous phases.

Expected Results

The expected outcome for this project includes: improved provision of financial services for poor women and men and small businesses. The project focuses particularly women and on agricultural/rural and remote areas.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved at the end of the project (March 2021): (1) increased volume of credit provided by supported microfinance providers to micro small and medium enterprises and poor people from $ 310.58 million in 2013 to 344 74 million in 2020; (2) achieved 56% of policy changes including the National Microfinance Act review National Financial Inclusion Framework 2.0 National Payment System Strategy National Financial Education Framework and National Micro insurance Action Plan; (3) increased the number of people registered with national identification numbers (NIN) from 0 to 36 Million in 2020 with 18 men out of 36 men registered as NIN holders to use the access services (mobile money); (4) increased the number of women clients at supported Financial Service Providers (FSPs) with loans over $1 307.71 from 11 236 in 2013 to 26 768 in 2020; (5) increased the number of poor people accessing financial services from assisted financial institutions from 1 117 651 in 2013 to 1 774 972 in 2020; (6) increased the number of women and youth accessing financial services from assisted financial institutions from 623 353 in 2013 to 982 593 in 2020; and (7) developed new financial infrastructure solutions for beneficiaries with 12 out of the 15 planned solutions (80%) supporting women and youth. These results improved financial services provisions for poor women men and small businesses in remote areas in Tanzania.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Registered Trustees of the Financial Sector Deepening Trust

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Financial policy and administrative management 20%
Formal sector financial intermediaries 15.65%
Informal/semi-formal financial intermediaries 13.06%
Business support services and institutions 42.18%
Agricultural financial services 9.11%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Institutional Support

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2013-04-01 to 2014-03-31 $15,098,626 CAD
Geographic Information
450
Project Number: CA-3-D000407001