South Africa faces growing exposure to severe natural disasters, with annual disaster relief costs averaging R3.7 billion, 86% of which are uninsured. The latest Intergovernmental
Women-led nano and micro enterprises (WNMEs) are central to local economies and household livelihoods, yet they remain underserved by mainstream financial systems. This new CGAP
Policymakers, especially in Africa, are facing unprecedented trade-offs between economic opportunity, national security, and climate sustainability. This article has been in the making for a
After over a year of collaborative research, in-depth analysis, and multi-stakeholder consultation, Cenfri is proud to present the East African Community Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for 98 percent of all businesses in Rwanda, employing over 2.5 million people according to the Ministry of
Gaining speed: Rwanda’s economic momentum Vision 2050 is Rwanda’s blueprint for achieving prosperity; the country is aiming for an upper-middle-income status by 2035 and a high-income
Data in isolation often tells only one part of the story. Sometimes, to gain a full picture, multiple datasets must be combined to incorporate different
2025 is a pivotal year in global development, as we are only five years away from the current deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As a Data Scientist, most of my time is spent wrangling data – dealing with inconsistent formatting, unstandardised data collection and unclear documentation (if documentation
At the end of November 2024, Cenfri had the opportunity to participate in the BIS Workshop on fostering financial inclusion through open finance in Basel.
As outlined in the discussion on developing a data strategy, the journey to becoming a data-driven organisation begins with a clear vision, practical objectives, and
To enhance the use of data for decision-making, it is important to develop not only individual data skills but also institutions that have embarked on
For the past three decades, Rwanda has had remarkable growth. Between 1999 and 2023, real GDP per capita grew on average 5% per annum. But
Rwanda’s journey toward becoming a high-income nation by 2050 is driven by clear strategic frameworks, one of which is the 2nd National Strategy for Transformation
Our work at Cenfri rarely follows the typical rhythms of the calendar year, yet, as 2024 draws to a close, we thought it would be
Real-time retail payments that enable consumers to send and receive cross-border and domestic transactions digitally are on the rise globally. The increasing proliferation of
Data can be used to improve policy decisions as well as to better understand the outcome of decisions taken. To enable this, policymakers need access
Lessons from scaling retail health microinsurance in Kenya It is often assumed that people with limited income will always choose the cheapest option available. However,
From experiencing the informal remittance journey first-hand on the bus to Harare, to unpacking payment system barriers in Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, to developing a
The promise of open finance has led to a rapid proliferation in countries exploring implementation globally. However, it also comes with costs and risks—particularly as
Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) are crucial drivers of economic growth in emerging markets, yet there is a persistent financing gap that restricts their access to
Lessons from scaling retail health microinsurance in Kenya We’ve all been there. You wake up feeling unwell and, being a rational person, you turn to
How can we prevent high healthcare costs and low insurance penetration from driving people into poverty? Imagine facing a medical emergency without insurance and having
On 1 December 2024, South Africa will take over the G20 presidency. This is a fantastic opportunity for Africa. In his recent Troika high-level address
Rwanda has set ambitious goals to transition from an agrarian economy to a knowledge-based one by 2050. This is operationalised through initiatives like the Smart
Many remittance service providers (RSPs) face a tough balancing act; they’re trying to innovate and grow, but it feels like they’re driving with the brakes
Policymakers are challenged to develop policies that will have a positive social impact. For instance, input subsidies for farmers have been widely used as a
Cenfri, in partnership with the GIZ I-FIN project, is providing technical assistance to the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ). In line with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation
Innovation can enable insurance to become a powerful engine of growth and development across the continent, but achieving this requires that market players and regulators
Designed for people who want broad exposure to a spectrum of data science and data engineering content, these data training resources are available to those
The South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA’s) publication of their Open Finance Policy recommendations (dated March 2024) is a promising step in moving the
Kigali, 08 May 2024 – The Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Mastercard Foundation and Cenfri announced today, the launch of the second phase of
Over the past three years, the Global Stocktake (GST) embarked on a consultative journey to assess progress towards the objectives of the Paris Climate Change
There is demand for skilled professionals in the field of data science as organisations are increasingly adopting a data-driven approach. From uncovering valuable insights to
Digitalisation per se has marginal impact; the crux is the way it is leveraged and implemented. We need a better understanding of how digital transformation
Fintechs have the potential to significantly improve the options available to financially underserved individuals. Many fintech start-ups in Africa, however, struggle to reach the scale
Digital financial services are transforming global financial service provision and access. Rapid developments in fintech are disrupting and transforming financial landscapes worldwide, leading to new
A diagnostic study on women cross-border traders between South Africa and Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique Informal cross-border trade plays a significant economic role in the
In today’s data-driven world, many organisations recognise the importance of leveraging data insights to make decisions. However, once they attempt to harness and use their
In October 2023, Doubell Chamberlain spoke to Rishi Raithatha about the impact that innovation and technology has had on the microinsurance market over the last
When I travelled the windy road from Kigali to the Volcanoes National Park to hike up Mount Bisoke, I spent most of my time looking
The Government of Rwanda’s ambitious plan to become a cashless economy by 2024 has seen significant efforts and investments in the cashless and digitalisation agenda.
Very little has changed in the Ethiopian insurance industry over the last fifteen years but there is a potential silver lining: a few fundamental changes
COVID-19 turned some of us into virtual voyagers. We spent hours scrolling through posts of people hiking to waterfalls, adventurers crossing canopy walks, and families
Open Finance can be defined as the sharing of consumer data between financial service providers (FSPs) and/or third-party providers on the basis of consumer consent.
In implementing the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme, Cenfri has worked with multiple stakeholders and partners to acquire datasets to inform policy that will improve the
Remittances are a valuable lifeline for Africans, with over USD 100 billion flowing into the continent annually from a migrant workforce of 40 million individuals
KYC and CDD requirements can inhibit access to remittances for low-income, rural households and women. These are our findings from the Remittance Access Initiative where
Ghana’s tourism industry presents an exciting landscape for growth, offering significant potential for youth employment and entrepreneurship. However, an effective digital presence is a prerequisite
Interoperable payment systems improve the efficiency and effectiveness of retail and cross-border payments. Cenfri worked with BankservAfrica on a white paper that assesses the state
If properly catalogued, classified and shared, public sector data can be leveraged to increase access to services, make service delivery more efficient and inform policymaking.
In recent years, Rwanda has embarked on a transformative journey towards digitalisation to fuel economic growth and innovation. The Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme, implemented by
Innovation opportunities for enhanced remittance access As part of our Remittance Access Ininitative (RAI), Cenfri conducted a regulatory assessment of seven countries (Ghana, Kenya, Morocco,
Central banks have cited several reasons for considering or piloting central bank digital currencies (CBDC). These include a desire to enhance financial stability and monetary
The Remittance Access Initiative (RAI) is a programme set up through a partnership between IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR) and Cenfri. Cenfri is working
Recognising the importance of digital payments as a contributor to financial inclusion, central banks in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasingly looking to address the remaining
Gakere is a 49-year-old mechanic from Nairobi, and like 77% of adults in Kenya, he does not have National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) or private
Consumers face several frustrations with the potential to affect their experience of digital financial services. These include system glitches, inappropriate design, fraud, cybercrime, data breaches,
To support regulatory authorities in sub-Saharan Africa in promoting inclusive insurance market development, there is a need to strike a balance between innovation and the
The authors of this report would like to acknowledge the support of the International Dialogue on Consumer Protection in Context of the SDGs, coordinated by
The retail and trade (merchant) sector is one of the priority sectors for the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme. The sector and its upstream activities generate
In Uganda, refugees and asylum seekers struggle to cash out their remittances due to challenging and time-consuming identity verification processes. This is one observation from
Capacity-development is a vital part of the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation programme and beyond the hosting of training courses, the aim is to cultivate a hub
Despite the best efforts of sub-Saharan African (SSA) insurers, most African citizens and small businesses do not yet have insurance. Our recent research in eight
Learnings from the Remittance Access Initiative (RAI) in partnership with IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances Cenfri, in partnership with IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances recently
Agriculture plays a major role in the Rwandan economy: close to 75% of the population’s livelihood depends on farming. However, the majority of these farmers
Will CBDC solve your financial inclusion woes or further exclude the vulnerable? Central bank-backed digital currency (CBDC) may alleviate financial exclusion barriers, but it comes
Kigali, Monday 29th August 2022 – The Smart Africa Alliance welcomes Cenfri as an international non-profit member to advance Smart Africa’s digital transformation initiatives. With
The value of non-legally binding guidance Regulation is the regulator’s strongest and most fundamental tool; but it can take years to be published. In Zambia,
Cenfri has deepened its work on CBDC amid growing interest from central banks Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) has emerged as a key consideration for
Nothing illustrates the incredible power of data-driven decision-making more than the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Lamenting the disparities in genomic sequencing data from high versus lower-middle
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Egypt Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a fundamental role in the Egyptian economy – they drive more
One of the reasons so much emphasis is placed on digitalisation is that people hope digital technology will solve common, but hereto unresolved, challenges. While
Opportunities await insurers and tech providers who are willing to work together Insurance is a key tool that provides businesses with protection and resilience against
About the Insurance Innovation Dialogue To support insurance regulatory authorities in sub-Saharan Africa strike a balance between innovation and risk, FSD Africa set up the
Insurers can partner with digital platforms, lenders and insurance aggregators to offer better products that matter for MSMEs. Despite being heavily underfinanced, micro, small and
The role of enabling identity regulation in Ghana Recent data shows that remittances continue to play a critical role in Ghana. According to Ghana’s 2020
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered engines of economic growth and development, especially in developing economies, yet they continue to be disproportionately rejected from
The Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme aims to support the Government of Rwanda in its vision of building an inclusive digital economy using data-driven policymaking. To
Early insights from IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances and Cenfri Our work with IFAD to improve remittance access across seven African countries has shown that
A changing climate affects everyone, but it’s the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, predominantly women and girls, who bear the brunt of environmental, economic and
A demand-side perspective of the risk management and resilience needs of remittance senders from South Africa to Ghana, Malawi and Zimbabwe Remittance-linked insurance products (RLIPs)
On-demand transport services and insurtech Whether as a customer or a business, digital platforms that connect people and services are ubiquitous today. The adoption of technology in food
How Cenfri makes systemic change happen In helping to build a world of opportunity and greater equality, where people and societies thrive, and where the
