Passing the buck in East Africa – Money transfers systems: The practice and potential for services in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

• by Cerstin Sander
• Jun 3, 2004
• 1 min
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This paper is a synthesis of a series of findings of MicroSave market research studies on how low-income individuals and small or microentrepreneurs transfer money and make payments in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the three countries comprising the East African Community (EAC). It analyses the reasons for sending money and the regulated services and other ways available to transfer money on the basis of interviews with microfinance clients as users and banks and other service providers in all three countries. Combining their perspectives with complementary research, the paper identifies gaps and weaknesses in the existing money transfer services. These gaps offer a market opportunity for new or different services, including the potential for services by microfinance institutions (MFIs)

This paper is a synthesis of a series of findings of MicroSave’s market research studies on how low-income individuals and small or micro-entrepreneurs transfer money and make payments in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the three countries comprising the East African Community (EAC). It analyses the reasons for sending money and the regulated services and other ways available to transfer money on the basis of interviews with microfinance clients as users and banks and other service providers in all three countries. Combining their perspectives with complementary research, the paper identifies gaps and weaknesses in the existing money transfer services. These gaps offer a market opportunity for new or different services, including the potential for services by microfinance institutions (MFIs)