The World Bank is assisting Moldova in developing its first National Financial Inclusion Strategy and implementation program until 2030 – the NBM
As announced by the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), from November 3 to 7, it hosted a World Bank mission to provide technical assistance. The purpose of this mission was to support the interdepartmental working group in finalizing the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (SNIF 2030) and developing an action plan for the SNIF 2030 Implementation Program. According to the National Bank, the development of this Strategy, the first of its kind for Moldova, is part of a technical assistance program funded by the Moldova Growth, Resilience, and Opportunities for Well-being Trust Fund (M-GROW), managed by the World Bank Group. The initiative is being implemented at the local level by an interdepartmental working group formed by representatives of seven institutions that signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development, implementation, and monitoring of the strategy. The memorandum was signed on June 28, 2024, between the National Bank of Moldova, the National Financial Market Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and the Moldovan Banks Association. The National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2030 will be a set of long-term public policies aimed at defining and planning the roles of participating institutions in promoting financial inclusion. The Strategy focuses on leveraging opportunities to improve access to financial services, enhance their quality, and encourage their use by citizens from different social and economic backgrounds, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. During the mission, nine workshops were organized, attended by representatives of the institutions that signed the memorandum, more than 20 other public and private organizations, as well as civil society interested in the implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy. The seminars focused on the objectives of the Strategy and the completion of the actions necessary for its implementation. Discussions covered the four pillars of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy: use and quality of financial services; payment ecosystem; protection of financial services consumers; and financial capacity. At this stage, a context for participation has been created in which the public and private sectors have strengthened their capacity to adapt the measures developed to meet the needs and realities considered from the broadest possible perspective. The goal is for these measures to be accompanied by the necessary, substantial, and inclusive support for all people, regardless of gender, age, social status, abilities, level of education, or place of residence, as well as for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Special attention will be paid to low-income groups to ensure they have broader and fairer access to financial services. The vision of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy is to create a reliable, inclusive, and innovative financial ecosystem that will contribute to building a sustainable and prosperous society, reducing inequality, and stimulating economic growth. The development of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2030 is in line with Moldova's commitment to promote sustainable economic development by increasing financial accessibility with the support of international development partners. // 10.11.2025 – InfoMarket.
