The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has launched Braille publications containing financial and economic information as part of efforts to make financial education more accessible to people with visual disabilities.
The initiative, launched in Dar es Salaam yesterday, seeks to ensure people with visual impairments can access information needed to make informed decisions on saving, borrowing, investment and use of financial services.
Speaking at the launch, BoT Deputy Governor Dr Rahma Salim Mahfoudh said financial inclusion should not be measured only by the number of people accessing banking services, but also by whether citizens can obtain the information required to use those services effectively.
“Access to information is becoming increasingly important in a world where financial literacy plays a major role in decisions on saving, investing, borrowing, using financial services and protecting oneself against financial fraud,” she said.
The publications cover key areas of financial services, including establishment of banks and financial institutions, personal financial management, investment, credit information, deposits, payment systems and business licensing.
They also provide guidelines for providers of small financial services, as well as information on the history and functions of the central bank.
Dr Mahfoudh urged public institutions, private companies, education institutions and other stakeholders to review their communication systems and ensure information is accessible to people with different forms of disabilities.
She said institutions should ask whether the information they provide reaches all citizens and whether people with disabilities can access their services without unnecessary barriers.
“Taasisi zinapaswa kujiuliza kama taarifa wanazotoa zinawafikia watu wote, kama mtu mwenye ulemavu wa kuona anaweza kuzipata kwa urahisi, na kama huduma zao zimezingatia mahitaji ya watu wenye aina mbalimbali za ulemavu,” she said.
The move was welcomed by organisations representing people with visual disabilities, with Zanzibar Association of the Blind Chairperson Fatma Dijaa thanking the BoT for expanding access to financial information.
She said the publications would help people with visual disabilities participate more effectively in financial activities and make decisions based on information they can independently access.
The Secretary of the Tanzania Blind Association, Iddi Damka, also commended the initiative, saying it would expand the reach of financial education.
The launch was attended by students and staff from the University of Dar es Salaam, the Open University of Tanzania and the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), as well as BoT officials.
The initiative underscores the growing importance of accessible communication in financial inclusion, particularly as more Tanzanians rely on formal financial services and digital payment platforms.
For citizens with visual disabilities, access to information in Braille can mean greater independence in understanding financial products, assessing risks and making decisions about their money.
