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The African Postal Financial Services Initiative (APFSI)

The African Postal Financial Services Initiative (APFSI) was a unique broad-based partnership led by IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), and bringing together the World Bank, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). It was co-financed by the European Union (EU).

The joint goal of this regional programme was to enhance competition in the African remittance marketplace through supporting and enabling African post offices in offering financial services. More specifically, it aimed at promoting a cheaper, faster, more convenient and more client-friendly transfer of remittances, particularly to rural areas, while fostering dialogue among stakeholders, regulators and policymakers.

APFSI rolled out a large technical assistance programme involving private-sector stakeholders, regulators and policymakers in four countries: Benin, Ghana, Madagascar and Senegal. This programme supported the national postal operators (NPOs) to enhance their impact in the remittance market, with the ultimate objective of increasing access to finance for rural populations through post offices. Coordinated efforts among all of the programme’s partner international organizations and NPOs of the four countries resulted in the provision of extensive technical assistance on a broad range of components. These included assessment of legislative and regulatory frameworks, assistance for financial-sector compliance, development of effective business and financial management plans and marketing strategies, and the provision of equipment, among others.

On the basis of the results obtained in the four selected countries, and following an in-depth analysis of the situation in seven additional countries, APFSI – in coordination with these four countries’ NPOs – developed medium-term road maps designed to be used as guides for modernization of the existing postal networks and for broadening of their range of remittances and financial services.

Related news

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African post offices can be at the forefront of remittance and financial services in rural areas

June 2018 - NEWS
Postal services can play a pivotal role in delivering remittances, lowering the transfer costs and providing access to basic financial services in Africa, according to a report released today by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the European Commission (EC) on the occasion of the International Day of Family Remittances to be observed tomorrow.

Post offices are key to scaling up remittances and financial inclusion in Uganda

June 2017 - NEWS
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Postbank of Uganda (PBU) and Posta Uganda signed a grant agreement today aimed at expanding the role of postal networks in the delivery of remittances and access to financial inclusion across the country.

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Improve partnerships between Post and Money Transfer Operators for better remittance services to rural Africa

December 2022
This flyer was produced in the framework of the African Postal Financial Services Initiative (APFSI) to highlight the improved partnerships between the Post and Money Transfer Operators to provide remittance services in rural areas.

How post offices can leverage the impact of remittances: A set of working papers

June 2020
This set of three working papers explores ways to maximize the impact of remittances delivered through post offices.

The African Postal Financial Services Initiative: A success story on remittances at the post office in Africa

June 2018
The African Postal Financial Services Initiative (APFSI) was a unique broad-based partnership led by IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR), and bringing together the World Bank, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and was cofinanced by the European Union (EU). The joint goal of this regional programme was to enhance competition in the African remittance marketplace through supporting and enabling African post offices in offering financial services. More specifically, it aimed at promoting a cheaper, faster, more convenient and more client-friendly transfer of remittances, particularly to rural areas, while fostering dialogue among stakeholders, regulators and policymakers.

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