By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

THE Bank of Zambia (BoZ) in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will roll out the adoption of Female and Male Operated Small Enterprises (FAMOS) check tool in four commercial banks.

This is aimed at assisting financial institutions carry out a gender self-check to identify improvements in their operations in particular, in respect of the needs of the women entrepreneurs.

Central Bank deputy governor in charge of administration Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula said they were expected to roll out the adoption of FAMOS check tool in four commercial banks this year to improve the services that banks provide to women and men entrepreneurs.

“BoZ has partnered with ILO to roll-out the adoption of the Famous check tool beginning with banks. The Bank of Zambia has so far carried out three FAMOUS checks in three commercial banks.

For this year’s programme we plan to go into four more banks and ultimately the intention is to go out in the entire financial sector that we supervise and regulate,” Dr Kankasa-Mabula said.

She said this was aimed at assisting financial institutions carryout introspection into the manner in which they provide financial services to the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly how well they serve their female customers.

Dr Kankasa-Mabula said FAMOS checks therefore encourage financial institutions to support women’s access to productive assets.