Assessment of Mobile Money Usage on Rural Financial Literacy in Côte d'Ivoire: Implications for Policy Recommendations

Mobile money services have become increasingly prevalent in many African countries as a means of financial inclusion for rural populations. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys, focus groups, and secondary data analysis was employed to explore these relationships. Mobile money users in rural Côte d'Ivoire demonstrated a significant improvement (p<0.05) in basic financial knowledge compared to non-users, with over 70% showing enhanced understanding of savings options. The study highlights the potential for mobile money initiatives to bridge gaps in financial education among rural populations, suggesting targeted educational campaigns are needed to maximise benefits. Policy recommendations include integrating financial literacy components into existing mobile banking platforms and providing subsidies or incentives for banks to promote these services in underserved regions.