Financial Sector Deepening Zambia is a national nonprofit company providing information, innovation, and impact to increase financial inclusion. We seek to expand and deepen the financial market so all Zambians can benefit from financial services. We work with financial service providers, policy makers and civil society to make Zambia’s financial sector more robust, efficient and, above all, inclusive.

FSDZ supports both public and private sector efforts to develop an efficient and vibrant financial sector that offers a wider range of financial services through diverse channels to significantly more households and micro, small and medium enterprises. FSDZ facilitates linkages and coordination among consumers, financial service providers, civil society organizations, government, and other key stakeholders to support the development of a financial market system that works better for poor urban and rural communities. FSDZ is not a market actor; it does not provide services directly but rather, provides temporary and catalytic support to others to demonstrate markets, align incentives, and to develop support services.

The financial sector in Zambia is faced with a number of constraints including inherent characteristics of poor households, smallholder farmers and small businesses that discourage banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) from serving a broader market including: informality, lack of reliable financial information; perceived lack of skills, family owned structures; and inability to pledge adequate collateral. Constraints on the demand side include a lack of awareness of and access to financial services; the high cost of financial services; and the need for traditional collateral including land.