The government programme on Rural Financial Services (RFSP) commenced in January 2002. The RFSP, under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office, aims to achieve sustainable increase in incomes, assets and food security of poor rural households through enhancing their capacity to mobilize savings and investment in income generating activities. This is planned to occur through development of a viable financial system, well suited for the rural environment, and capable of networking with the existing financial institutions.

The programme’s National Coordination Office is based in Mbeya, with Zonal Coordination Units operating in Dodoma (for the Central zone; covering 6 districts) and Moshi (for the Northern zone; covering 4 districts). Operations at the district level are coordinated under the District Executive Director’s office, where a District Micro-finance Institutions Supervisor (DMIFIS) is directly responsible for the programme’s support activities to the grassroots MFIs. Programme Financial contributors include:

• IFAD and OPEC
• The Swiss Government
• Government of Tanzania