National Financial Inclusion Diagnostic Study and Financial Inclusion of Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) Roadmap for Mauritania

Financial inclusion in Mauritania in terms of access, use, and quality. 

Description

The Central bank of Mauritania through the financing and facilitation activities of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) has been engaged since 2019 toward an inclusive and sustainable development of its financial system. The mission of the project is to support the preparation of the Mauritanian National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (SNIF) through the development of a national diagnostic study on financial inclusion and a roadmap for the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations (FDP) within the SNIF.

The purpose of the Diagnostic Study is to assess the level of financial inclusion in Mauritania in terms of: access, use, and quality. The consulting team conducted an analysis of supply and demand in financial services through a literature review of available quantitative and qualitative data enriched by key in depth interviews with the various stakeholders. 

The purpose of the national financial inclusion diagnostic study is:

  • to use the already available data from the 2021 demand-side surveys (DSS), supply-side survey (SSS), and a comprehensive policy and regulatory review
  • to asses the level of financial inclusion in Mauritania in terms of access, usage and quality, and inform the formulation of Mauritania’s NFIS.

The roadmap for the inclusion of FDPs into the NFIS and for mainstreaming the financial inclusion policy involves analysing data from the diagnostic study and feedback gathered from key informant interviews and national multi-stakeholder consultative workshops, with a focus on increasing financial inclusion of FDPs. The purpose thereof is:

  • to develop a specific approach for the integration of FDPs.

Services

Inception meeting:

  • preliminary consultations with the BCM team to agree on the scope of work, timelines, deliverables, partners (e.g., ANSADE, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development, Ministry of the Interior and Decentralization, UNHCR), support needed, and reporting process.

Analysis of DSS raw data:

  • report on key financial inclusion indicators from the users and potential users of formal financial services in Mauritania
  • corroborate findings against Mauritania’s NFIS pillars as presented in the NFIS Concept Note
  • assess access and usage of quality formal financial services for the NFIS target groups including women and FDPs
  • assess the constraints and barriers faced by NFIS target groups including women and FDPs.

Analysis of SSS raw data:

  • report on key financial inclusion indicators from the financial providers perspective
  • draw conclusions
  • formulate recommendations for building a sound and sustainable financial sector that enables access to finance and offers appropriate financial services for target groups especially women, FDPs and MSMEs.

Policy and regulatory review:

  • report of desk-based research on relevant policies and regulations related to financial inclusion:
  • review those relevant to Mauritania’s financial inclusion agenda including ones related to MSME finance, women-owned businesses, the general ecosystem and policies currently supporting the uptake and usage of digital financial services, financial consumer protection regulations (transparency, redress mechanisms, fairness of contracts, data protection, etc.)
  • review policies related to market conduct supervision, financial and digital education and awareness
  • review specific policies to financially include vulnerable groups such as FDPs, women, youth, persons with disabilities, MSMEs, among others)

Qualitative Survey:

  • Key informant interviews and FGDs with stakeholders and with beneficiaries in Nouakchott and M’bera refugee camp.

Support to a high-level financial inclusion diagnostic workshop:

  • consolidate comments at the workshop and inform the finalization of the diagnostic study post-workshop

Diagnostic study:

  • outline, draft and final reports defining the current situation, main barriers and opportunities on financial inclusion for different target groups including women and FDPs
  • provide important Baseline data
  • provide defined objectives, targets, and indicators for women and FDPs, in addition to the other target group of the NFIS)

Roadmap for the financial inclusion of FDPs:

  • Outline, draft, and final report identifying the enablers, policies and regulations needed to support FDPs financial inclusion (based on the diagnostic study).
  • Formulate vision, objectives, targets, specific enablers and foundations to financially include FDP
  • Provide an action plan including the leads and implementers with a results framework within a specific timeframe for national stakeholder implementation at a later stage.

Support to a high-level workshop:

  • Consolidate comments at the workshop and inform the finalization of the diagnostic study postworkshop.

Support to a national multi-stakeholder consultative workshop to support FDPs:

  • Consolidate comments and propose a final roadmap at the workshop for endorsement by national stakeholders.