At the 3rd edition of the Fintech 2025 Talks, placed under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, Mrs. Sibia Ngayihembako, Deputy Director General of FINCA DRC, delivered a key note speech on the pivotal role of Microfinance institution in financial inclusion.

Speaking on a panel dedicated to regulatory sandboxes and innovation in financial services, Ms. Ngayihembako said that digital financial service providers like FINCA, which combine technology and social mission, are best positioned to serve populations far from the traditional banking system.

She recalled that the national objective of achieving a banking penetration rate of 65% by 2030 cannot be achieved without a concerted mobilization of actors committed to inclusion. According to her, the regulatory sandbox is a strategic catalyst allowing fintechs to test their digital products in a secure environment, under the supervision of the regulator as it was the case when the first network of bank agents was launched in 2011 by FINCA DRC.

Ms. Ngayihembako also stressed that the authorities have a key role to play in the development of digital solutions, especially when regulatory frameworks are not yet fully established. In this context, sandboxes are becoming essential tools for experimenting with innovations by involving all relevant stakeholders, who are strategic partners in bringing financial inclusion to rural communities where lack of infrastructure make it even more difficult.