A financial sector that works for consumers has a suite of products and features that are suitable to consumers’ needs, are safe from cybercrime and that protect consumers’ privacy. Ideally, empowered consumers exercise an informed choice, understand the information disclosed to them, and have their voice heard in their interaction with financial services providers and agents.
The reality is often different. Cenfri’s consumer outcomes work aims to bridge the gap. We have worked with Consumers International, CGAP, GIZ, FSD Kenya, FSCA South Africa and the SADC Secretariat. Our track record includes policy briefs, regional consumer protection guidelines, financial inclusion measurement, measurement of consumer outcomes, and country-level consumer protection technical assistance.
We also have a significant body of work on behavioural science and its application in the financial sector.
Financial health is a potentially powerful concept that is attracting interest around the world. Citizens, politicians and policymakers know that effectively managing one’s financial resources – being financially healthy – is central to the success of both individuals and broad populations. If financial health is to be a useful construct,
Data from China suggests that men are more likely to die from COVID-19 than women, but the global circumstances of women (e.g. more vulnerable economic positions than men, taking on more unpaid care work) and experiences from previous pandemics (such as Ebola) tell us that the economic fall-out and subsequent recovery are likely to hit women harder
As South Africans finally enjoy some exercise in the open air after six weeks of strict government-imposed lockdown, the biggest question on everyone’s minds is: What does the path back to normality look like? The strict measures have been successful in flattening the curve and have bought valuable time to
As Beth Rhyne captured in her recent blog on Nextbillion, before COVID-19 an alarmingly large portion of adults around the world were not financially resilient. Gallup asked people how long they could meet their basic needs if their income stopped – by drawing on reserves or selling something. The percentage
Webinar: The impact of COVID-19 on financial health The impact of COVID-19 on financial health webinar explored the impact of COVID-19 on financial health in developed and emerging economies. It looked outside of Africa, to Asia and the US, where the impact of COVID-19 has been felt for longer.
A synthesis report on what we’ve learned As we set out to understand what our financial inclusion measurement quest would be, it became apparent that it matters what you try to measure. Financial inclusion targets (percentage of adults with a bank account, say) remain valid, but they don’t tell you
As we reflect on International Women’s Month 2020, we look back on the different things we’ve learned about women’s financial needs, and all the things we are yet to learn! Under the banner #EachForEqual, International Women’s Day 2020 drew attention to the importance of collective individualism – recognising that we
Like a well-plotted mystery, the story of how the novel coronavirus is affecting our world adds a new chapter every day. From today’s vantage point, no one can see how it will turn out. One thing that is clear, however, is that the financial health of many if not most
This diagnostic study explores Zambia’s payments landscape and provides insight and key learnings as Zambia’s 2018 – 2022 payment strategy to modernise the payment system and promote a cash-light society This report outlines salient features of the Zambian economic context and political economy with a bearing on the National Payment
We’ve been exploring how financial service providers can translate new insights from behavioural science into the design and delivery of financial services These systematic reviews conducted in 2017 and 2018 sought to identify behavioural interventions that have been proven to influence the credit, saving, insurance or payment decisions of customers. We’ve
Financial health is a potentially powerful concept that is attracting interest around the world. Citizens, politicians and policymakers know that effectively managing one’s financial resources – being financially healthy – is central to the success of both individuals and broad populations. If financial health is to be a useful construct,
Data from China suggests that men are more likely to die from COVID-19 than women, but the global circumstances of women (e.g. more vulnerable economic positions than men, taking on more unpaid care work) and experiences from previous pandemics (such as Ebola) tell us that the economic fall-out and subsequent recovery are likely to hit women harder
As South Africans finally enjoy some exercise in the open air after six weeks of strict government-imposed lockdown, the biggest question on everyone’s minds is: What does the path back to normality look like? The strict measures have been successful in flattening the curve and have bought valuable time to
As Beth Rhyne captured in her recent blog on Nextbillion, before COVID-19 an alarmingly large portion of adults around the world were not financially resilient. Gallup asked people how long they could meet their basic needs if their income stopped – by drawing on reserves or selling something. The percentage
Webinar: The impact of COVID-19 on financial health The impact of COVID-19 on financial health webinar explored the impact of COVID-19 on financial health in developed and emerging economies. It looked outside of Africa, to Asia and the US, where the impact of COVID-19 has been felt for longer.
A synthesis report on what we’ve learned As we set out to understand what our financial inclusion measurement quest would be, it became apparent that it matters what you try to measure. Financial inclusion targets (percentage of adults with a bank account, say) remain valid, but they don’t tell you
As we reflect on International Women’s Month 2020, we look back on the different things we’ve learned about women’s financial needs, and all the things we are yet to learn! Under the banner #EachForEqual, International Women’s Day 2020 drew attention to the importance of collective individualism – recognising that we
Like a well-plotted mystery, the story of how the novel coronavirus is affecting our world adds a new chapter every day. From today’s vantage point, no one can see how it will turn out. One thing that is clear, however, is that the financial health of many if not most
This diagnostic study explores Zambia’s payments landscape and provides insight and key learnings as Zambia’s 2018 – 2022 payment strategy to modernise the payment system and promote a cash-light society This report outlines salient features of the Zambian economic context and political economy with a bearing on the National Payment
We’ve been exploring how financial service providers can translate new insights from behavioural science into the design and delivery of financial services These systematic reviews conducted in 2017 and 2018 sought to identify behavioural interventions that have been proven to influence the credit, saving, insurance or payment decisions of customers. We’ve
