This Brief explores the gender gap in financial inclusion among smallholder families in Tanzania and Mozambique through unique survey data that allow for a nationally representative look at smallholders.

It is time for DFIs to adopt an alternative approach to financial inclusion that prioritizes needed market changes. A shift to a market systems approach addresses this need and requires that DFIs carefully analyze each market to determine the key gaps, underlying causes, critical actors, and theory of change for bringing about sustainable market development.

Despite their active financial and agricultural lives, smallholders in Mozambique have few tools to manage their irregular and volatile household cash flows, and thus it is difficult for them to plan and expand their livelihood activities.

Over three-quarters of the population in Nigeria are involved in the agriculture sector. Yet despite their active financial and agricultural lives, smallholders in Nigeria have few tools to manage their irregular and volatile household cash flows.