디지털금융을 통한 아프리카 금융포용성 개선방안 연구(Digital Finance and Financial Inclusion in Africa)

본 연구에서는 디지털금융이 아프리카의 금융포용성 개선에 중요한 역할을 하고 있다는 점에 주목하여 아프리카의 디지털금융과 금융포용성에 대한 종합적인 분석을 수행하였다. 코로나19 팬데믹을 전후로 최근 아프리카 지역의 금융포용성 및 디지털금융 관련 현황과 정책을 파악하고, 디지털금융을 통한 금융접근성 개선이 가져오는 사회경제적 영향을 분석하며, 주요국과 한국의 대아프리카 금융 및 디지털금융 분야 협력 현황을 검토하였다. 연구 결과를 토대로 한국과 아프리카 간 금융 및 디지털금융과 관련한 세부적인 협력 방안을 제안한다. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the digital finance and its impacts on financial inclusion in Africa. While the development of the financial sector is crucial for long-term economic growth, traditional financial industry growth in Africa has been insufficient. Nevertheless, notable progress has been made in enhancing financial inclusion in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 8, particularly since the introduction of mobile money services in Kenya in 2007. Mobile money services have emerged as a lifeline, allowing the previously unbanked to have access to affordable and secure financial services in Africa. The adoption of mobile-based financial services has rapidly expanded, with 154 out of 315 global mobile money services available in sub-Saharan Africa as of 2022. This widespread adoption has significantly reduced the proportion of financially excluded populations across Africa. However, despite these achievements, the adult account ownership rate in sub-Saharan Africa averaged only 55% in 2021. With the exception of South Africa, which has a well-established traditional financial industry, and Kenya, which has made remarkable progress in embracing mobile money, there is still ample room for improving financial inclusion throughout the African continent. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift in the financial industry, with a surge in online payments and increased fintech activities. Lockdowns led to higher demand for contactless services, while African governments’ policies to boost non-face-to-face financial services further stimulated the use of mobile money services. Many African countries are now pursuing digital transformation strategies tailored to their needs, focusing on e-government services, digital infrastructure, and electronic payment systems. Additionally, many African countries are formulating national strategies to enhance financial inclusion by integrating low-income and marginalized populations into the financial sector.(the rest omitted)