About us
Overview
Where we’ve worked
Our approach
Our purpose
Our people
Our team and associates
Our board
Our network
Our work
Research themes
Behavioural Science
Data and analytics
Digital Africa
Insurance for development
Integrity – AML/CFT and Combatting Illicit Flows
Measurement in financial inclusion
Microinsurance and health financing
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Payments and remittances
Policy and regulation
Resilience
Technology and innovation
Programmes and initiatives
COVID-19 impact and recovery
Innovation Lab (Innolab)
insight2impact (i2i)
Making Access to Financial Services Possible (MAP)
Risk, Remittances and Integrity (RRI)
Insights
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Now reading:
Our team
About us
Overview
Our approach
Our purpose
Where we've worked
Our people
Our team and associates
Our board
Our network
Our work
Research themes
Behavioural Science
Behavioural science seeks to understand the underlying factors that influence judgements and decision-making. These can relate to the individual or to the contextual environment. Someone living with very little income, for example, will find it more difficult to make long-term decisions around savings or accessing credit. Their circumstances will force them to focus on their immediate needs compared to someone who might be under less constrained circumstances. A good example of this is when low-income adults borrow from informal providers at very high-rates for consumption. Integrating behavioural insights into our data collection and analysis strategies can advance our understanding and predictions of financial behaviour and guide us to design financial services that really help adults achieve their goals. With current innovations in survey design and data collection, we can test these insights quicker and learn faster. As part of our global i2i programme, we have looked into the barriers and opportunities for integrating new sources of data (e.g. social media) into financial service decision-making that can change the way we do business.
Data and Analytics
Digital Africa
An increasingly digital and connected Africa is providing new ways to participate in the economy. As the digital revolution gains ground, we’re focused on a number of questions which explores the digital economy, financial services and livelihoods. Forces These are the key uncertainties and forces that will shape the future of Africans for the next 30 years, such as a growing youth demographic, the changing nature of employment, connectivity and the effects of technology, the rise of super platforms and climate change. Scenarios The scenarios for Africa’s digital future aim to stimulate a discussion around the choices that decision-makers in Africa have to make in responding to forces and uncertainties that shape the continent’s digital economy.
Insurance for Development
Integrity – AML/CFT and Combatting Illicit Flows
Anti-money laundering (AML) and combatting the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulation in combatting illicit flows is currently one of the primary international financial sector standards which may, if not carefully implemented, impact on financial inclusion. We seek to support compliance with international standards in a manner that does not impact unnecessarily on financial sector development and inclusion. We have conducted extensive research in the area of financial integrity as part of our [Add link:] risk, remittances and integrity programme and beyond, across Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Measurement in Financial Inclusion
The increasing prominence of financial inclusion as a tool for development and growth has spawned extensive data-gathering initiatives to measure, understand and improve it. The result is a variety of new measurement frameworks leveraging this data. Early indications suggest that the financial inclusion strategies developed and guided by these measurement frameworks may not be leading to the results that policymakers want to achieve. Our work under the global [Add link:] i2i programme produces dedicated research in the area of financial inclusion measurement
Microinsurance and Health Financing
Microinsurance refers to the provision of insurance to lower-income households. If appropriately designed and intermediated, insurance products can play an important role in reducing vulnerability for low-income households as well as presenting profitable markets for commercial insurance providers. In addition, ensuring well-functioning health financing systems is a critical element of development policy and the delivery of health services. We have done extensive work on the regulation and development of microinsurance and health financing markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Given the critical role that micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) play in emerging markets, interventions designed to support them need to be effective in unlocking innovation, employment and economic growth. Cenfri is exploring several areas of MSME-related work including: Nuanced MSME segmentation Digital transformation of MSMEs Systems mapping (understanding key value-chains as well as the drivers and constraints in the ecosystem) Designing interventions and rethinking insurance to meet MSME needs and better manage the risks they face Technical assistance to the private sector
Payments and Remittances
Cross-border and domestic money transfers play a critical role in the financial strategies of low-income households and present many opportunities to extend financial inclusion. Our extensive research on remittances spans sub-Saharan Africa and forms part of our dedicated programme on risk, remittances and integrity.
Policy and Regulation
We use our expertise in a variety of financial sectors, in advising the development of inclusion-friendly financial sector policy and regulation. The work we do on any component of the financial sector is always placed within the broader financial policy and regulatory framework, and within a clear understanding of market dynamics and trends. Our work leverages all financial sector players, including commercial financial service providers, towards providing financial services to lower-income households. Whilst much of our work focuses on policy and regulatory outcomes, we do this in support of private financial sector development. Our extensive research in the area of financial policy and regulation spans Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Resilience
Resilience relates to the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions and systems to absorb and address an increasingly complex range of shocks. Our resilience work encompasses: Insurance markets. Including microinsurance, insurtechs and insurance for development. Remittances. Understanding barriers to remittances to recommendations for action. Urban resilience. How to respond to climate change and natural disasters by building more sustainable, insurable cities and infrastructure.
Technology and Innovation
Distribution of financial services is a key constraint to extending financial services to low-income markets. Traditional networks are often costly, cumbersome and intimidating for low-income clients to use. As a result, much attention is currently placed on the development of new technologies (e.g. mobile phones) and business models (e.g. branchless banking) and on creating the regulatory space for these models to develop. Embracing technology in this regard will benefit not only the extension of banking networks, but also the distribution of all other non-bank financial services. We, therefore, see this as a key focus area in support of financial inclusion. Our work on new technology and distribution spans Africa and Latin America.
Programmes and initiatives
Making Access to Financial Services Possible (MAP)
insight2impact (i2i)
Launched in 2015, insight2impact is jointly hosted by Cenfri and FinMark Trust and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. This global resource centre supports policymakers, FSPs and development partners to harness and fully capitalise on the power of data to advance financial-sector development and generate better financial inclusion and welfare. Download the brochure.
Risk, Remittances and Integrity (RRI)
Across sub-Saharan Africa, financial sectors face significant constraints to more formally serve consumers and facilitate inclusive growth. This five-year partnership between FSD Africa and Cenfri aims to address these challenges, through the RRI program which works to strengthen the integrity and risk management role of the financial sector and to facilitate remittance flows within and into the continent. Download the brochure.
Innovation Lab (Innolab)
COVID-19 impact and recovery
Alongside organisations from around the world, Cenfri is committed to play our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. All our staff are working from home and we have suspended all travel for the moment. We are also actively looking for ways in which we can assist in limiting any unnecessary economic impacts on already vulnerable emerging economies and to apply our development efforts to build towards more resilient households and economies. We shall continue to work directly with partners and stakeholders to develop innovative and alternative ways to pursue our shared development objectives. This is an extraordinary time in history as much of the world is focused on responding to a single challenge, and it is therefore an opportunity for us to learn from and support each other where possible. COVID-19’s direct and indirect impact on economic development will undoubtedly be significant. While our normal ways of work are challenged, we also need to double our development efforts. Cenfri will seek to use the tools at our disposal to contribute to managing the impact of the crisis on people, particularly those in developing countries. We are not slowing down, and we look forward to connecting with you during this time of…
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Our team
Our team shares a common vision, committed to our mission of unlocking development outcomes through insights.
Our Team
External Associates
Doubell Chamberlain
Founder and Managing Director
Doubell is the founder and managing director of Cenfri. He has extensi [...]
Hennie Bester
Director and insight2impact Lead
Hennie is a passionate leader and ex [...]
Barry Cooper
Technical Director
Since June 2013, Barry has been collaborating with Cenfri on its retai [...]
Christine Hougaard
Technical Director
Christine has been part of the Cenfri team since 2008, with deep [...]
Mia Thom
Director of Insights
Mia is a Technical Director, leading Cenfri’s Risk for development p [...]
Steph van der Westhuizen
Chief Operating Officer
Since June 2015, Steph has been responsible for Cenfri's enablement fu [...]
Louise de Villiers
Programme Manager for Insights
Louise specialises in survey methodology, questionnaire design and dat [...]
Masiiwa Rusare
Senior Engagement Manager
Masiiwa is currently the Senior Engagement Manager at Cenfri. He manag [...]
Jeremy Gray
Resilience Team Lead
Jeremy leads the resilience team at Cenfri and has been at Cenfri sinc [...]
David Saunders
Partnerships and Impact Lead
Before joining Cenfri in 2012, David worked as a fellow at the ILO M [...]
Chernay Johnson
Engagement Manager
Chernay is an Engagement Manager at Cenfri where she leads a portfolio [...]
Antonia Esser
Engagement Manager
Antonia has been part of the Cenfri team since April 2016. Her main re [...]
Albert van der Linden
Engagement Manager
Albert is an Engagement Manager at Cenfri and has been part of the tea [...]
Kate Rinehart-Smit
Senior Associate
Kate Rinehart-Smit is a Senior Associate for Cenfri’s Risk portfolio [...]
Karen Kühlcke
Senior Associate
Karen joined Cenfri in 2017 as the content curator for the i2i facilit [...]
Roland Mwesigwa Banya
Associate
Roland M. Banya is a development finance specialist with 10 years’ e [...]
Nichola Beyers
Associate
Nichola Beyers works as a research associate within the [...]
Matthew Ferreira
Associate
Matthew joined Cenfri in 2017 and he now works as a research associate [...]
Michaella Allen
Associate
Michaella [...]
Matthew Dunn
Associate
Matthew started as a research analyst at Cenfri in 2018. Since joini [...]
Pieter Janse van Vuuren
Senior Researcher
Since Pieter joined Cenfri’s Risk team in February 2018, his work ha [...]
Jana de Waal
Senior Researcher
Jana joined [...]
Lucia Schlemmer
Senior Researcher
Lucia Schlemmer is a Senior Researcher at Cenfri and joined the team i [...]
Fabrice Gatwabuyege
Senior Researcher
Fabrice Gatwabuyege is a senior researcher in the Integrity team at Ce [...]
Lezanne Janse van Vuuren
Senior Researcher
Lezanne joined Cenfri in January 2020 and is currently working as a se [...]
Kinyanjui Mungai
Researcher
After interning for 10 months at Cenfri in the Integrity team, Kinyanj [...]
Nomahlubi Mavikela
Researcher
Nomahlubi joined Cenfri in January 2020 as a research analyst within t [...]
Mishkah Abrahams
Researcher
Mishkah started as a Researcher in the Digital World team in January 2 [...]
Karien Scribante
Researcher
Karien joined Cenfri as a research intern in October 2019 and is now a [...]
Georgina Borros
Researcher
Georgina joined Cenfri at the beginning of 2021 as a researcher. Pr [...]
Lelethu Bodlani
Research Assistant
Lelethu joined Cenfri in 2019 as part of the Cenfri bursary programme [...]
Antoine Fourié
Creative and Internal Comms Lead
Antoine is an applied linguist, specialised in English language editin [...]
Sarah Goodier
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer
Sarah started as Cenfri’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) [...]
Eden D’Oliveira
Communications Associate
Eden joined Cenfri as Digital Communications Coordinator within the Kn [...]
Estelle Williams
Digital Communications Specialist
Estelle joined Cenfri as the Digital Communications Specialist within [...]
Bryanah Marais
Digital Communications Coordinator
Bryanah joined Cenfri in April 2019 as an Editorial and Communications [...]
Lisa Bruwer
Visual Content Designer
Lisa joined the Knowledge Management team as an intern in November 201 [...]
Melanie Fairhurst
Content Editor and Writing Coach
Melanie joined Cenfri in 2019 as part of the Knowledge Management team [...]
Tessa Kock
Financial Controller
Tessa has been part of the Cenfri team since 2009. She has more than [...]
Megan Gorridon
Human Resource Manager
Megan has been part of the Cenfri team since June 2019, as the Human R [...]
Linda Stanford
In-house Accountant
Linda joined Cenfri at the beginning of 2016. Besides being the in-hou [...]
Ntombizonke Notyalwa
Assistant Accountant
Ntombizonke joined Cenfri in November 2019 as an Assistant Accountant, [...]
Alexandrea van Roodt
RRI Programmes Administrator
Alexandrea joined Cenfri in April 2019 as Programmes Administrator for [...]
Gillian Lovatte
Project Portfolio Coordinator
Born and bred in Cape Town, Gillian joined Cenfri in 2017 as a Project [...]
Ismail Samsodien
HR Generalist
Ismail joined Cenfri in January 2019. As a member of our Enablement te [...]
Linet Engelbrecht
Travel Desk and Office Manager
Before joining Cenfri in 2013, Linet worked in public relations for se [...]
Amanda Schoeman
Personal Assistant
Amanda joined Cenfri in February 2016. She has nearly 40 years’ se [...]
Thirza Stevens
Personal Assistant
Thirza joined Cenfri in August 2018 as the personal assistant to the m [...]
Marie Gouws
Receptionist
When Marie joined Cenfri in February 2015, she had worked as a recepti [...]
Lemmy Manje
Lemmy is the Founding Partner and CEO of [...]
Nigel Bowman
Nigel is a highly experienced actuary and insurance professional. Prio [...]
Iske van den Berg
Iske is a qualitative research specialist with 25 years’ experienc [...]
Wicus Coetzee
Wicus is an independent consultant who works closely with Cenfri and w [...]
John Symington
John is the owner and director of Compliance & Risk Resources (Pty [...]
Louis de Koker
Louis was a founding director and previous board member of Cenfri. He [...]
Anja Smith
Anja Smith joined Cenfri in 2008 as one of its founding staff members. [...]
Rochelle Jacobs
Rochelle has spent the past three years working as a behavioural pract [...]
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