The contribution of mobile money to financial inclusion in the informal sector in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of Cameroonian small business

The implosion of Mobile Money in sub-Saharan Africa in 2000s seems to have given a major boost to financial inclusion in the African informal sector once excluded from the traditional banking sector. The aim of this article is to understand the contribution of Mobile Money to financial inclusion in Cameroon’s informal sector. Our experimental area is Cameroon. Our methodological approach is qualitative. Empirical material includes documentary research, semi-structured interviews with managers of companies operating in the informal sector, and participant and non-participant observation. Our results show that Mobile Money has made a significant contribution to financial inclusion in Cameroon’s informal sector and can therefore be considered as a tool for financial inclusion. It open a reflection on the management to be put in place to secure financial transactions.