Country
Malawi, Namibia, Zambia

Local Project Partner
Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM)
Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank)
Bank of Zambia (BoZ)

German Project Partner
Malawi: Sparkasse Schwaben-Bodensee
Namibia: Kreissparkasse Saarlouis
Zambia: Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen

Donor
BMZ

Duration
01.07.2026 - 30.06.2028

A lack of basic financial literacy affects not only informal, rural areas, but also formally employed workers and businesses. It leads to over-indebtedness, low use of financial products, a lack of provision for the future and economic instability in private households. It hinders the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are often unable to obtain bank financing due to a lack of qualified documentation. As a result, employment, investment and tax payments fall short of their potential.

The overall objective of the project is to support the sustainable transformation of the economy so that SMEs in the project countries are strengthened, secure jobs are created, and households become more resilient and economically active, thereby strengthening the local economy in a socially equitable manner. Improving basic financial literacy is one of the key levers for preventing over-indebtedness and increasing the use of financial products – both among formally employed people and among businesses. Targeted support for SMEs is crucial for job creation, investment and tax revenue. What is needed is local, institutional anchoring of financial education and SME support, including the use of digital channels.

Task
To achieve these goals, the following measures, in particular, will be implemented:

• Strategic and operational strengthening of project partners at the macro, meso, and micro levels
• Development and provision of financial literacy content and dissemination channels
• Exploring expansion into South Africa: financial literacy through major employers
• Development and piloting of the Small Business Evolve program 
• Networking of developments, resources, and pilot projects in the project countries