ABOUT FSDT TANZANIA
FSDT adopts a market development approach toward addressing systemic constraints in the market and contribute toward achieving pro-poor growth in the financial sector. Among the constraints to achieving financial inclusion in Tanzania are gaps in the legal, policy and regulatory framework, information asymmetry between customers and Financial Service Providers (FSPs), low financial capability of customers and FSPs, lack of appropriate market infrastructure and unmet demand for financial services and relevant financial products.

FSDT uses a broad range of financial instruments – including loans, guarantees and grants to spur innovation among FSPs and the development of the financial ecosystem. Leveraging on its position as a thought leader in financial inclusion, FSDT pushes for facilitation in the market – achieved through a combination of convening, advocacy, and engagement support delivered to FSPs, industry associations, regulators, policymakers and donors operating in the market and by sponsoring research and its dissemination in the market. Evidence generation is a cornerstone of the work of FSDT that allows for diagnosis of the status of financial inclusion in the country as an input into the design of appropriate activities.

FSDT operations focus on four thematic areas namely Agricultural and Rural Finance, SME Finance, Digital Finance and Insurance. In Agricultural and Rural Finance, FSDT undertake a deep diagnosis of the barriers to agriculture and rural finance transactions and work with a broad range of partners to implement interventions that address the constraints and unlock access, usage, quality, and welfare of financial services. FSDT looks at the transactions between the agriculture sector and its usage and depth of usage of financial products and services and the resultant contribution to improved productivity. Theme interventions are designed to deepen the financial sector contribution to sector development and farmer welfare improvement.