Support for Inclusive Financing in DRC 2017-2021 Stöd till finansiell inkludering i DRK 2017-2021 Insatsen är ett stöd till projektet Action, Change and Transformation for Financial Inclusion (ACTIF) för finansiell inkludering i Demokratiska republiken Kongo (DRK). Insatsen implementeras av United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) och United National Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Den administrativa förvaltaren av fonden är UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF-O) i New York.

UNDP och UNCDF kommer att implementera insatsen tillsammans med lokala partners på mikro-, meso- och makronivå.
(i) På makronivå samarbetar UNDP med DRK:s Centralbank för att stärka kapaciteten hos nationella institutioner.
(ii) På mesonivå stärks kapacitet hos tre organisationer; den finansiella integrationsfonden (FPM) samt två professionella partnerorganisationer för finansiella serviceaktörer, Association professionnelle des coopératives d’épargne et de crédit (Aprocec) och Association nationale des institutions de microfinance (Animef).
(iii) På mikronivå kommer mikrofinansaktörer och spar- och kreditkooperativ som är registrerade hos DRK:s Centralbank stärkas.

Projektet kommer stärka kapaciteten hos institutioner och aktörer inom den finansiella sektorn i DRK. Projektet riktar sig indirekt till personer eller grupper som idag har begränsad tillgång till finansiella tjänster. Projektet ska förbättra kapaciteten hos den finansiella sektorns aktörer för att diversifiera och anpassa tjänsterna för låginkomsttagare.

Insatsens övergripande mål:
1. Att stödja DRK:s mikrofinansiella sektor och därmed bidra till ökad finansiell inkludering.
2. Att stärka kapaciteten hos den finansiella servicesektorn med fokus på produkter och tjänster för låginkomsttagare.
3. Att öka tillgången till finansiella tjänster för sparande, kredit, medels-överföring och remittering med fokus på låginkomsttagande kvinnor, ungdomar samt mikroentreprenörer i landsbygdsmiljöer.

Den totala budgeten för insatsen är 50 153 988 SEK (USD 5 735 375). Ambassaden kommer bidra med 40 895 174 SEK (USD 4 771 899) för att genomföra insatsen under perioden 2017-2021. Budgeten kommer även finansieras av UNDP med 3 170 900 SEK (USD 370 000) och UNCDF med 6 370 723 SEK (USD 743 375). Även organisationen Fin Mark Trust kommer bidra till insatsen med ytterligare stöd, vilket kommer öronmärkas till remitteringskomponenten av insatsen. The Action, Change and Transformation through Financial Inclusion (ACTIF) is a project
support to the microfinance development in the DRC.

It is not a direct support to vulnerable groups and small Congolese businesses, nevertheless it provides support to the institutions that are mostly involved in extending services to improve financial inclusion and are working closely with vulnerable populations. UNDP and UNCDF will implement the intervention jointly with local actors at macro, meso and micro level. (i) UNDP is working with and strengthening the capacities of these institutions at macro level, through the Central Bank. (ii) At meso level with the Financial Integration Fund (FPM) and the APROCE and ANIMEF professional associations. (iii) At micro level, UNDP will work with microfinance institutions and savings and credit cooperatives that are registered with the Central Bank, and it is up to these institutions to give microcredit to their target groups.

The Administrative Officer of the Funds is the UNDP Multi-stakeholder Trust Fund Office (MPTF-O). The DRC UNDP office and UNCDF will be responsible for implementation.

The intervention aims to contribute to financial inclusion in the DRC through the following actions: (i) improving the legal and regulatory framework and institutional framework for a harmonious and secure development of the microfinance sector, (ii) capacity building and financial infrastructure development, including the structuring of the profession to support the sustainability of financial services accessible to many people as possible, (iii) Strengthening the capacity for the service providers to provide diversified financial products and services adapted to the low-income population.

The contribution has the following approaches:
1. Support the DRC's micro financial sector and thereby contribute to increased financial inclusion.
2. Capacity-building for the financial service sector, focusing on products and services for low-income customers.
3. Increase access to savings, credit, transfers and remittance services, by focusing on low-income women, young people and micro entrepreneurs in rural areas.

The total budget for the intervention is SEK 50,153,988.00 (USD 5,735,880). The Swedish Embassy will contribute with up to SEK 40,895,174 (USD 4,771,899.00) for the implementation of the intervention during the period 2017-2021. The remaining budget will be financed by UNDP and UNCDF: UNDP 3,170,900 (US $ 370,000) and UNFPA 6,370,723 SEK ($ 743,375). In addition, the project will be supported by Fin Mark Trust, which is finalizing a financing injection that will be directly invested in the "Remittances" component of the DRC work stream, in accordance with the ACTIF project proposal and the UNCDF / Fin (MAP) implementation partner (Making Access Possible). The intervention ACTIF aims to increase the financial inclusion in the DRC. This will contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the DRC, particularly related to poverty alleviation, inclusive economic growth and the reduction of inequalities. The project also aims to assist in the achievement of the DRCs national poverty reduction goals.  The intervention includes five results areas:  Outcome 1: At the micro level, financial service providers are strengthened, enabling them to develop innovative methodologies tailored to the specific needs of women, men and young people, particularly among farming and homeowner households of micro, small sized enterprises.  Outcome 2: At the meso level, the sustainability and management of institutions is improved, enabling them in particular to support microfinance institutions and saving and credit cooperatives.  Outcome 3: Innovative methods for digital online payments and online transmission of funds are developed and adopted to consumer needs, through efforts in enhancing the usage of internal and cross-border remittances.  Outcome 4: The policy framework and the regulatory and institutional framework for microfinance are strengthened and support is provided to the Ministry of Finance for the implementation of the DRC National Financial Inclusion Roadmap.  Outcome 5: The acquisition, learning and sharing of knowledge attained when implementing the project.  It should be noted that this phase should put more emphasis on the micro-and meso levels, whilst the macro level will be limited only to the supervision and control of service providers in the sector.