As part of support to strengthen financial inclusion in Guinea-Bissau, the UNDP country office is supporting the implementation of strategies for better knowledge and understanding of financial inclusion as a tool to access to income and improve the conditions of living for the population.

These strategies include assessment studies to identify current and future gaps, constraints and barriers with the aim to provide concrete recommendations on innovative financial services needed to enhance financial inclusion, respond to the needs and demands of Guinea-Bissau's population, both resident and diaspora, and make the financial sector more conducive to private sector development, while diversifying the country's economy.

With a view to gathering information for the study, a meeting was held in Bissau on July 20, with different actors in the sector, to discuss the needs and obstacles to support financial inclusion in the country. Representatives from banking, finance, economy and planning, microcredit financial institutions, civil society and the private sector participated in this meeting.

The conclusions of the discussion will contribute to the evaluation and implementation of the Financial Inclusion project funded by UNDP Guinea-Bissau .