Financial Inclusion and Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) - A Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to review the interrelationships between financial inclusion, digital finance, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) performance in emerging economies, with a specific focus on Zambia. Design/methodology/approach: The use of Google Scholar, Elsevier, research gate, and science direct generated the survey methodology. The suitable publications were selected from the papers published between the years 2000 and 2023. The terms applied for searching keywords include small and medium enterprises, financial services, SMEs in Zambia, financial performance of SME, SMEs in Africa, financial inclusion, economic growth, financial literacy, digital technology, and digital finance.