Analysis of Gender Differences in Access to Financial Services in Burkina Faso
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Date
2026
Authors
Bouraima Sawadogo
Steve Douanla Meli
Evodie Esther Ngomena
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AERC
Abstract
This study analyzes the differences between men and women in terms of access to formal and informal financial services in Burkina Faso. More precisely, using Global Findex (2021) data collected from 1,000 households by the World Bank group, it first attempts, using logistic regressions, to analyze the impact of gender, first on the probability of access to formal financial services, then on the probability of access to formal financial services, of access to informal financial services, and finally on access to both forms of services. Then, using the multivariate decomposition method, it analyzes the gender gaps in access to these two forms of financial services. The results of logistic regressions indicate that compared to men, women are more likely to access not only informal financial services, but also both forms of financial services at the same time. Multivariate decompositions reveal the existence of gaps in access to the two forms of financial services, to the disadvantage of women. These gaps are explained, on the one hand, by differences in characteristics between the two groups, also known as the explained component, particularly standard of living and age, with regard to access to formal financial services, and, on the other hand, by differences in coefficients, also known as the unexplained component, with regard to access to informal financial services.