BoT targets deeper financial inclusion with braille publications

DAR ES SALAAM: STAKEHOLDERS in the financial sector have been challenged to ensure that economic and financial information is accessible to people with disabilities as part of efforts to build a more inclusive financial system.

The challenge comes at a time when access to financial information is increasingly important in enabling citizens to make informed decisions, however, limited access to information in accessible formats can restrict their ability to participate fully and independently in the formal financial system.

Speaking today, August 19, 2026,  during the launching of braille publications by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), the central bank’s Deputy Governor, Dr Rahma Salim Mahfoudh, said financial inclusion should go beyond opening bank accounts or accessing financial services to ensuring that every citizen could obtain information needed to make sound financial decisions.

She challenged government institutions, private-sector players, educational institutions and other stakeholders to review how they provide information and ask whether their services and communication channels adequately address the needs of people with different forms of disabilities.

“Institutions should ask themselves whether the information they provide reaches everyone, whether a person with visual impairment can access it easily and whether their services have considered the needs of people with different types of disabilities,” Dr Mahfoudh said.

She said access to information was increasingly important in a world where financial knowledge influences decisions on saving, investment, borrowing, use of financial services and protection against financial fraud.

The central bank produced braille publication, marking an important step towards making financial and economic information more accessible to people with visual impairment.

The publications cover a range of topics, including the establishment of banks and financial institutions, personal financial management, investment, credit information, deposits, payment systems, business licensing and guidelines for small financial service providers, as well as the history and functions of the central bank.

She said the initiative demonstrated BoT’s commitment to ensuring that information about the economy, financial services and the central bank was available in formats that responded to the needs of different groups in society.

She noted that financial inclusion was not simply about having access to financial services, but also involved having the information and understanding required to use those services safely and effectively.

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In addition, the initiative was welcomed by representatives of organisations serving people with visual impairment, who described the braille publications as an important resource for addressing a longstanding information gap.

The Open University of Tanzania’s  Representative, Mr AbdulAziz Mnyangema, said the initiative would provide much-needed guidance to students and members of the wider community with visual impairment, particularly on banking and financial matters.

He said the community of people with visual impairment, this has been a challenge in many areas, especially banking and financial matters. Providing publications like these gives them important guidance and is a light for them,” he said.

He commended BoT for recognising the information needs of people with visual impairment, saying the publications would benefit a wider community beyond those attending the launch.

Moreover, the Secretary of People with Visual Impairments, Mr Iddi Danka underscored the initiative, saying it addresses an important information gap among people with visual impairment.