FinScope Focus 2 - Women Smallholder Farmers: Managing their Financial Lives

Women smallholder farmers face multiple barriers in managing their financial lives and advancing economically. Financial exclusion affects women farmers’ ability to manage day-to-day expenses, deal with emergencies, and invest in assets and productive activities. Compromised financial management in turn impedes women farmers’ capacity to build healthier lives for themselves, their families and their communities. This paper is intended to deepen our understanding of current and potential financial inclusion of women smallholder farmers in Zambia from their own – the farmer’s – experience and perspective. It is aimed at policy makers, financial service provider.