Our History

FSD Uganda Establishment

FSD Uganda was established in August 2001, as a programme funded by DFID and managed by ECI Africa Consulting (Pty) Ltd with a core mandate to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions in order to expand the provision of appropriate financial services, particularly to the rural poor. Since then the objectives and design of the project has evolved along with the very dynamic financial sector.

FSDU established as a Financial Services Inclusion Programme

In 2013, it was established as a Financial Services Inclusion Programme contracted to KPMG. It was incorporated as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in 2014 to provide a flexible and long term programme to implement pro-poor interventions in the financial sector.

FSD Uganda incorporated as a company

In March 2015, Financial Sector Deepening Uganda Ltd (FSD Uganda) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. It was incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to provide a flexible and long term programme to implement pro-poor interventions in the financial sector.

FSD uses the “making markets work for the poor” (M4P) development approach. The M4P approach seeks to change market systems so that they work more effectively for the poor.

FSD Uganda uses a three pronged approach:

At the macro level, the financial sector would be strengthened by ensuring an appropriate legal and regulatory structure for the delivery of services to the poor.

The meso level would see the financial sector strengthened through the provision of appropriate support services.

While at the micro level, the capacity of financial sector would be improved to provide innovative financial services to the poor, including targeted savings products, support to informal savings and loans associations and targeted financial education programmes.