Technical assistance

Collaborations with regional and national regulators and policymakers create conditions where digital financial services can benefit everyone.

Our approach to technical assistance

Innovative and inclusive markets don’t just happen. They need policies and regulations to function effectively, especially in the financial services sector.

UNCDF has been working for more than 25 years with governments to implement their financial inclusions plans. Our team at UNCDF Policy Accelerator collaborates directly with governments to provide technical assistance that improves the use of digital financial services (DFS), especially for the most underserved members of society. 

We bring our neutral market position, local presence, and in-house expertise to synthesize regulatory advice, facilitate consultation with the private sector and civil society, and protect customer.

Our areas of expertise

We work primarily on the key regulatory enablers of DFS (see CGAP, Regulatory Elements of DFS). As such, our support focuses on the following topics:

  • E-money: Encouraging mobile instant payments provided by institutions not subject to the full range of prudential rules applicable to traditional banks (and without authorization of intermediation) while protecting customer funds and financial stability.

  • Distribution of DFS via agents: Regulating the outsourcing of the distribution network by defining the responsibilities of the agents and the service provider; ensure the viability of this network by encouraging the diversification of agents' sources of income, especially in rural areas.

  • Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing risk-proportionate framework: Introducing simplified Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures for low-risk cases to enable more people to access and use formal financial services.

  • Financial consumer protection: Supporting financial authorities to deepen their expertise and improve their regulatory and supervisory framework for financial consumer protection.

  • Women's financial inclusion: Better calibrating policies designed to encourage women's financial inclusion, through consultations, surveys, or data collection and analysis.

In addition, we intervene as needed on specific subjects, such as:

  • Instant payments interoperability: Encouraging a deployment of interoperability that consolidates rather than immobilizes the industry.

  • Open banking: Understanding existing open banking models and the choices made by regulators in this area.

  • Fintech regulation: Supporting the assessment of regulatory harmonisation across the multiple areas that apply to Fintechs, including how sandboxes can promote inclusive innovation.

Our interventions are flexible and are based on the needs of our partners. In addition to the topics listed above, we can also provide in-depth analysis on emerging topics such as cybersecurity, central bank digital currencies, digital identification, taxation, and broadband policy.

Types of technical assistance we offer

The support we provide includes:

  • Regulatory diagnosis: Conducting a market analysis that includes potential opportunities to improve access to and use of DFS.

  • Benchmarking: Collecting and analysing information on practices or performance of a specific subject across different markets.

  • Drafting and reviewing strategy and regulatory content: Drafting and reviewing strategies, laws, circulars, briefing notes, and other regulatory texts.

  • Training and learning: Offering training and coaching and also setting up individual and team learning plans. (See our Capacity-building page for more information.)

  • Scholarships: Providing scholarships to access online or in-person trainings developed by universities and other education partners. (See our Capacity-building page for more information.)

  • Public/private dialogue and events: As part of a strategy or regulatory update, helping organize consultation with other public and private actors, facilitating sessions, and preparing reports.

  • Business model diagnosis: Compiling information on the operation of business models in other countries, organising working meetings to evaluate the opportunity, and aiding in responding effectively and quickly to the investor.

  • Supervision: Supporting regulators and supervisors in setting up appropriate oversight and developing responsive regulatory processes.

  • Peer-to-peer exchanges: Hosting exchanges between regulators and supervisors from various countries.

We also provide other types of customised support that respond directly to the needs and interests of governments.

Our impact

Explore our contributions to DFS policymaking. Learn more →

Geographic focus

We primarily collaborate in the following markets:

  • Algeria

  • Benin

  • Burkina Faso

  • Cameroon

  • Central African Republic

  • Chad

  • Côte d'Ivoire

  • Egypt

  • Equatorial Guinea

  • Eritrea

  • Ethiopia

  • Gabon

  • Ghana

  • Malawi

  • Mali

  • Mauritania

  • Niger

  • Republic of the Congo

  • Senegal

  • Sierra Leone

  • Tanzania

  • Togo

  • Tunisia

  • Uganda

  • Zambia

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