Summary of "2025 AFI GPF: AFI Financial Inclusion Country Assessment:"

The video presents an in-depth discussion on the AFI Financial Inclusion Country Assessment (FICA), a new initiative by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) designed to systematically evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of national financial inclusion strategies. The session features insights from key figures involved in the pilot assessments and the strategic oversight of FICA.

Main Financial Strategies, Market Analyses, and Business Trends:

Financial Inclusion Strategies Evaluation: FICA serves as a comprehensive macro-level peer review mechanism assessing not just individual policies but the overall effectiveness of a country’s financial inclusion strategy in delivering real-world impact, particularly for underserved groups such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, and displaced persons.
Policy Implementation and Impact Measurement: The initiative emphasizes closing the gap between policy formulation and measurable outcomes on the ground, moving beyond theoretical frameworks to practical, data-driven evaluation.
Data-Driven Decision Making: The importance of robust, disaggregated financial inclusion data (beyond just gender) is highlighted as critical for impact assessment and policy refinement.
Collaborative and Inclusive Governance: Effective coordination among multiple stakeholders is essential, with governance structures that ensure inclusive participation and ownership of financial inclusion efforts.

FICA Methodology (Six-Step Process):

Application: Countries volunteer or are selected to participate in the assessment.
Self-Assessment: The country conducts an internal review of its financial inclusion policies and strategies.
Technical Peer Review: A team of trained assessors from other AFI member countries conducts a detailed peer review, including on-site visits.
Effectiveness Evaluation: Assessment of how well policies translate into tangible financial inclusion outcomes.
Report and Recommendations Development: A comprehensive report is produced with practical advice for improving policies and implementation.
Monitoring and Follow-Up: Ongoing tracking and support to ensure recommendations are implemented and strategies evolve.

Key Insights and Recommendations:

Value of FICA: Countries benefit from an external assurance of their financial inclusion efforts, gaining honest, practical feedback that helps refine strategies and improve coordination.
Role of Assessors: Assessors require strong technical knowledge of AFI policy models, research and survey skills, and interpersonal abilities to conduct sensitive, constructive dialogues. Structured training programs for assessors are recommended to enhance effectiveness.
Timing and Frequency: FICA assessments are most useful when countries have an existing strategy to evaluate, ideally between strategy cycles to inform future planning. Readiness and stakeholder engagement are critical for success.
Challenges and Improvements: The pilot process revealed challenges such as lengthy timelines, coordination difficulties, and the need for better data collection and management. Suggestions include streamlining the process, enhancing data collection frameworks, and embedding financial inclusion assessments into supervisory expectations.
Future Outlook: FICA is positioned as a complementary tool to existing AFI initiatives, with potential for wider adoption and thematic self-assessments. There is strong encouragement for member countries to engage actively to refine global financial inclusion standards.

Presenters / Sources:

Deputy Governor Francis Chipimo – Bank of Zambia (Country experience and pilot participant)
Mr. Clarence BL – Director of Payment Systems, Bank of Ghana (Co-lead assessor and lessons learned)
Dr. Ma Alhosari – General Manager, Central Bank of Egypt and Vice Chair of AFI Global Standard and Policy Committee (Strategic oversight and future recommendations)
Moderator / Host: Robin (name inferred from context)

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This session underscores FICA’s role in enhancing accountability, rigor, and impact in financial inclusion policy implementation across AFI member countries.