Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth

The study aims to assess the range of FI among SME managers. Financial Inclusion (FI) ensures that every individual, especially the marginalized, has adequate access to financial services. The main objective of this study is to analyze the extent of SME managers’ access to financial schemes and pol...

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Main Author: Kuldip Paliwal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institut Agama Islam Sunan Giri Ponorogo 2025-03-01
Series:Indonesian Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejournal.insuriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/jief/article/view/6908
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author Kuldip Paliwal
author_facet Kuldip Paliwal
author_sort Kuldip Paliwal
collection DOAJ
description The study aims to assess the range of FI among SME managers. Financial Inclusion (FI) ensures that every individual, especially the marginalized, has adequate access to financial services. The main objective of this study is to analyze the extent of SME managers’ access to financial schemes and policies in Zambia, Africa. The study describes the budget provided by the Zambian government for SMEs, which will help in examining the level of financial literacy (FL) of SME managers regarding budgeting. Despite their potential, SMEs face many challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate financial literacy among entrepreneurs, and a fragmented regulatory environment and identifies opportunities to improve financial inclusion through targeted strategies. The study emphasizes the need to enhance financial literacy programs tailored to the needs of SME owners to empower them. The study also highlights the importance of collaborative efforts between government agencies, financial institutions, and development partners to create an enabling ecosystem. The study proposes actionable strategies that Zambia can implement to improve access to finance and enhance financial literacy. The study findings show that most entrepreneurs agree that financial accessibility is important for SME development and implement inclusive policies to expand the reach of financial services.
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spelling doaj-art-c8378cf409f44f529c5669638d04f55e2025-08-20T02:26:44ZengInstitut Agama Islam Sunan Giri PonorogoIndonesian Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance2808-11022025-03-015110.37680/ijief.v5i1.6908Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for GrowthKuldip Paliwal0University of Zambia The study aims to assess the range of FI among SME managers. Financial Inclusion (FI) ensures that every individual, especially the marginalized, has adequate access to financial services. The main objective of this study is to analyze the extent of SME managers’ access to financial schemes and policies in Zambia, Africa. The study describes the budget provided by the Zambian government for SMEs, which will help in examining the level of financial literacy (FL) of SME managers regarding budgeting. Despite their potential, SMEs face many challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate financial literacy among entrepreneurs, and a fragmented regulatory environment and identifies opportunities to improve financial inclusion through targeted strategies. The study emphasizes the need to enhance financial literacy programs tailored to the needs of SME owners to empower them. The study also highlights the importance of collaborative efforts between government agencies, financial institutions, and development partners to create an enabling ecosystem. The study proposes actionable strategies that Zambia can implement to improve access to finance and enhance financial literacy. The study findings show that most entrepreneurs agree that financial accessibility is important for SME development and implement inclusive policies to expand the reach of financial services. https://ejournal.insuriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/jief/article/view/6908Financial Inclusion; Financial Literacy; Access to finance; SMEs; Economic growth
spellingShingle Kuldip Paliwal
Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth
Indonesian Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance
Financial Inclusion; Financial Literacy; Access to finance; SMEs; Economic growth
title Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth
title_full Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth
title_fullStr Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth
title_short Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Growth
title_sort enhancing financial inclusion and financial literacy for small and medium enterprises smes in zambia challenges opportunities and strategies for growth
topic Financial Inclusion; Financial Literacy; Access to finance; SMEs; Economic growth
url https://ejournal.insuriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/jief/article/view/6908
work_keys_str_mv AT kuldippaliwal enhancingfinancialinclusionandfinancialliteracyforsmallandmediumenterprisessmesinzambiachallengesopportunitiesandstrategiesforgrowth