Every year on 28 September, the world marks the International Day of Access to Information, a reminder that the right to seek, receive, and share information with consent is not just a democratic principle, but a foundation for empowerment, dignity, and opportunity.
In emerging economies, this right takes on an even deeper meaning. Where millions remain excluded from formal financial systems, access to reliable information can be the bridge between survival and opportunity, between informal activity and financial inclusion.
Why Access to Information Matters in Fintech
Fintech thrives on data. But more importantly, it thrives on transparency, trust, and participation. In markets where traditional credit histories don’t exist, or where people lack access to banking infrastructure, information becomes the currency of inclusion.
For fintechs in emerging economies, access to information means:
- Better Risk Assessment: Using mobile data, transaction patterns, and alternative data sources, fintechs can responsibly extend credit to the underserved.
- Customer Empowerment: When customers understand their financial options, they make better decisions, avoid predatory lending, and build stronger financial identities.
- Regulatory Alignment: Transparent flows of information build trust with regulators, protecting consumers while allowing innovation to scale.
The Impact on Emerging Markets
- According to the World Bank, around 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked globally, most of them in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 60% of adults lack access to formal credit, yet mobile penetration continues to grow – creating new opportunities for fintech-MNO partnerships.
- Women remain disproportionately excluded. For example, GSMA reports that 940 million women still do not own a smartphone, limiting both connectivity and financial access.
Access to information changes these statistics. It enables fintechs and mobile operators to design solutions that meet people where they are, offering airtime and data advances, merchant floats, handset financing, and micro-lending products in ways that are accessible, transparent, and responsible.
The Role of Fintech–Mobile User Collaboration
In markets where mobile phones are the most widespread technology, Mobile Network Operators, Retailers, Banks and Insurers partner with fintechs to turn access to information into access to opportunity.
- Mobile usage data can be leveraged (with consent) to create financial identities for the unbanked.
- AI and machine learning can transform raw information into actionable insights for both providers and customers.
- Real-time information flows enable instant credit, seamless transactions, and financial literacy tools at scale.
Looking Forward
On this International Day of Access to Information, it’s worth remembering that information is power only when it is accessible, inclusive, and actionable. For fintechs in emerging economies, this is the foundation of their mission.
At AIRVANTAGE, we believe that combining the reach of mobile technology with the intelligence of AI-driven financial services, we can build systems that are not only profitable, but responsible.