Gendered Financial Inclusion and Urban Resilience: Evidence from The 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey
Gendered Financial Inclusion and Urban Resilience
Keywords:
gender equality, financial inclusion, digital services, urban resilience, urban development.Abstract
Financial inclusion is a key indicator of sustainable urban development and resilience. The Tanzanian government has recognised its importance by establishing a national framework to promote affordable and accessible financial services and foster an inclusive financial system. Despite these efforts, a gender gap persists in access to and use of formal financial services, hindering progress toward gender equality and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, equitable economic growth and urban resilience. This study examines the socio-economic determinants of gender disparities in financial inclusion in urban Tanzania. It draws on data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and applies logistic regression analysis to investigate gender gaps in financial access and utilisation. Guided by Sen’s capability approach and insights from behavioural economics, the analysis explores how socio-economic factors shape individual access to financial products and services, thereby influencing both individual and community resilience. The results show that women are 4.38 percentage points more likely than men to be financially excluded, with mobile phone ownership exerting the strongest positive effect on financial inclusion and household resilience. These findings highlight the need for policies that address gender specific barriers, including enhancing financial literacy, expanding access to digital financial services and challenging socio-cultural norms that limit women’s financial participation.
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