Cenfri has broad experience in fit-for-purpose payment systems in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. We work towards making retail payments a public good, assisting central banks, payments operators and payment system participants navigate domestic and cross-border payments modernisation in a manner that contributes to economic inclusion. We have worked extensively in instant/faster retail payment systems and in improving access to remittances for low-income households. Other projects range from diagnostic and landscaping studies, developing a national payments vision, to analysing payments legislation and regulation, and feasibility studies on central bank digital currency (CBDC). The convergence of payments and identity, as well as the focus on digitising the entire value chain rather than limited use cases, is central to our theory of change in digital payments. We have worked with IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances, the World Bank, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, AfricaNenda, FSD Africa, FSD Kenya, GIZ, UNCDF, BankservAfrica, Finmark Trust, the African Union and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. |
There’s no disputing the contribution of migrant remittances to the economic well-being of friends and family back home. For many African countries, the value of remittance flows exceeds that of foreign direct investment. However accessing the money via formal channels can be challenging for recipients who are faced with Know
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 QR codes, apps, tap-and-go card technology, and small-value payments using proxy identifiers (aliases) such as phone numbers and email addresses have made payments one of
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 cross-border payments strategy in the East African Community – payments is one of our long-standing thematic areas at Cenfri. It’s also the digital financial service
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 Rwanda Master Plan. The dream is to make Rwanda the digital hub of Africa, and a key focus is the digitisation of government services through
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 on. On one side, they need to expand and lower costs to reach more customers, but on the other, strict compliance rules are slowing them
There’s no disputing the contribution of migrant remittances to the economic well-being of friends and family back home. For many African countries, the value of remittance flows exceeds that of foreign direct investment. However accessing the money via formal channels can be challenging for recipients who are faced with Know
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 partnerships, including those with traditional financial service providers, to better serve existing customers and reach previously underserved consumer segments. However, the benefits of DFS are
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 Southern African Development Community (SADC), making up an estimated 30-40% of total intra-regional trade. It is valued at an estimated USD (United States Dollar) 17.6
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. These initiatives have led to the adoption of mobile money as one of the most popular financial transaction channels. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the value
Education is of fundamental importance to Rwanda’s economy; and the country has high policy priorities in providing access across the country. Primary and secondary education are free but there are other costs such as contributions to the school feeding programmes, books, etc. The education sector faces various challenges including low
Agriculture is the largest sector in the Rwandan economy, with 75% of the adult population generating their livelihoods from the sector. Its contribution to GDP and export earnings is substantial, accounting for 26% of Rwanda’s GDP value added in 2020. As part of the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme, we conducted
