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MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Improved economic opportunity and more resilient livelihoods are key to sustainable development in emerging markets. Interventions designed to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), startup ecosystems and more established value-chains need to be effective in unlocking innovation and employment if they are to contribute to economic growth. Cenfri undertakes several areas of related work including:

  • Digital economy diagnostics
  • Support for fintech innovation and research on the platform economy
  • Digital transformation of MSMEs (including innovations in logistics and digital tools for tourism businesses)
  • MSME finance – payments, credit, investment and resilience (rethinking insurance to meet MSME needs and better manage the risks they face)
  • MSME segmentation and the needs of women-owned enterprises
  • Technical assistance to the private sector
  • Scenarios linked to the future of work and food security
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Bridging the Gap: Unpacking segmentation approaches and the MSE landscape in Kenya, Uganda and India

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 essential capital. This financing challenge affects their ability to scale, manage cash flow, and build resilience against economic shocks, stifling both growth and sustainability. One

10 October, 2024
Egyptian market

Holistic resilience solutions for Egyptian MSMEs

Key insights on opportunities to better serve Egyptian MSMES    Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of developing economies playing significant roles in employment, growth, and economic welfare. In Egypt, MSMEs have been estimated to account for over 90% of active enterprises in Egypt (3.7 million) and represent

11 August, 2022
Digital Transformation & Data

Why doesn’t Kinyarwanda have a word for “Data”?

Data is the fuel on which the information economy runs; it has allowed businesses like Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon and others to grow exponentially by providing their customers with customized content and tailored services. Many companies now use data analytics and its derivatives, machine learning and AI, to understand their

11 August, 2022
Webinar: Building the resilience of MSMEs in Uganda - Insights for the financial sector
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Holistic risk solutions for MSME resilience in Egypt

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 than 80% of GDP growth and 40% of total employment – but they face considerable risks that hinder their ability to thrive. Insurance could bolster

21 July, 2022
Nairobi, Kenya - February 6, 2014: Ripe fruits stacked at a local fruit and vegetable market on February 6, 2014. Nairobi, Kenya. The market is frequently visited by locals and tourists.
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Private sector partnerships for MSME resilience: Learnings from Africa

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 risks and that enables them to better bounce back from shocks experienced. However – despite its potential positive impact – micro, small and medium enterprises

8 July, 2022
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

The role of different partners for effective MSME insurance

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 medium enterprises (MSMEs) are critical drivers of economic growth and contribute substantially to employment and innovation. They account for 50% of global employment and 90%

24 May, 2022
Digital Transformation & Data

Applying a gender lens to trade finance

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 trade finance. However, there is evidence that this barrier is not impacting all SMEs the same: women owned SMEs are more likely to be rejected

3 May, 2022
Bridging the MSME identification gap
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Insurance for MSMEs

The GIZ Compendium on how to improve insurance for MSMEs in a number of countries.  The work compiled in this compendium includes knowledge-building products, training concepts for MSMEs and the insurance industry as well as innovative approaches to design and deliver insurance and risk management services to MSMEs.

25 February, 2022
MSME resilience in Ghana
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

MSME resilience in Ghana

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make vital contributions to growth, employment and livelihoods, representing more than 90% of businesses and employing about 60% of workers.  However, the full potential of MSMEs is often not realised as they are highly exposed to risks that threaten their

15 December, 2021
Digitalizing farm to table supply chains in Asia
Digital Transformation & Data

Digitalizing farm to table supply chains in Asia

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 logistics has presented the opportunity to transform agricultural and food systems with tools that are cheaper and quicker to implement. App-based logistics and transport systems have

25 October, 2021
Digital Transformation & Data

Guidance on start-up support in Ethiopia

Recommendations to support digital start-ups Cenfri supported Digital Financial in producing a technical guide on the creation of a fund to support a digital start-up ecosystem in Ethiopia. This work was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Ethiopia in partnership with Digital Pathways at University of Oxford and

23 September, 2021