Financial fraud undermines trust and disproportionately harms those newly entering formal financial systems. The article “How a New Anti-Fraud Software Can Create Financial Inclusion for Millions,” published on the Gates Foundation website, introduces Tazama, a free, open-source anti-fraud and anti–money laundering software developed with Gates Foundation support to help financial institutions—especially in low- and middle-income countries—protect users while expanding access.
Tazama supports the broader strategy of building inclusive digital public infrastructure (DPI) by complementing open systems like Mojaloop (payments) and MOSIP (digital ID).
Key features and goals include:
- Real-time fraud detection to protect vulnerable users and build confidence in DFS.
- Open-source architecture, allowing countries to customize and scale at low cost.
- Support for regulators and banks, with training and implementation help from partners.
- Data protection and transparency built into the system design.
- Early adoption by central banks in West Africa and interest from regional blocs like COMESA.
Tazama strengthens trust, security, and scalability in financial systems, helping bring more people safely into the formal economy.