AFI officially welcomed Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe (BCSTP) as a principal member to the AFI network this week.

“The Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe represents a valuable addition to our vibrant network of policymakers and regulators working together to increase access to appropriate financial services for the poor,” said Alfred Hannig, Executive Director at AFI. “We were pleased BCSTP had the opportunity to attend the 2015 AFI Global Policy Forum (AFI) in Mozambique as a prospective member, and now we are excited to formally welcome them into the AFI family and look forward to collaborating with the bank on effective financial inclusion policies.”

BCSTP joins Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), Banco Central de Timor-Leste (BCTL), Banco de Moçambique (BM), and Banco Nacional de Angola (BNA) as Portuguese-speaking members in the network. AFI is currently working with BCB on an initiative to support Portuguese-speaking members on key financial inclusion topics, such as financial education.

AFI has more than 120 member institutions from over 90 developing and emerging economies, where the majority of the world’s unbanked reside. These institutions have pioneered some of the most innovative policy approaches to extending the financial system to the unbanked while also balancing safety and stability.

AFI will provides all of our members with the tools and resources to develop and share their knowledge of successful and evidence-based financial inclusion policies. For this purpose, AFI coordinates knowledge-exchange activities, manages working groups on specific policy areas—measuring financial inclusion, digital financial services, consumer empowerment and market conduct, national financial inclusion strategies, global standards proportionality, and SME finance—provides grants to develop and implement chosen solutions, and connects policymakers with strategic partners across the value chain.

Additionally, international and regional events as well as our online AFI Member Zone provide platforms for AFI members to share their experiences, gain new insights, and exchange ideas with their peers.