Improving Financial Inclusion in Rural Colombia .

Decades of armed conflict in Colombia have left many people in poverty and without equal financial opportunities. Those living in rural areas and working in agriculture have struggled to obtain financial services — such as credit, savings, and insurance and payment services. This limitation compromises the ability of micro-, small-, and medium-sized agricultural producers and other businesses to improve their productivity and, in turn, inhibits the country’s overall economic growth. The USAID Rural Finance Initiative (RFI) helps banks and other financial institutions deliver market-based services, especially for women and disadvantaged groups.