Comparison of Supply-side Study and Results from FinScope 2003 for BLNS Countries

This document compares findings from two surveys on access to financial services in Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho conducted by Genesis in 2002 and FinScope in 2003.

The first study documented the financial landscape of the four countries. It used supply side information to calculate the adult populations access to financial transactions, credit, savings and insurance. The second study profiled the demand for financial services in the four countries, the usage of informal services and client level usage in contrast with the products supplied.

Findings from the comparative study include:

• While Botswana is ahead of the other countries on access, the gap between Namibia and the remaining two countries is smaller than originally estimated;
• Informal market for Namibia is substantially smaller than that for the other countries;
• Largest change was for life insurance products in Lesotho with new figures on burial society membership;
• Biggest changes were seen in life insurance and credit categories;
• Botswana showed major changes in all categories;
• Addition of store credit figures increased credit figures in all the countries;
• Lesotho showed very low linkages between formal and informal institutions.