Now reading: A pocket guide to navigating the structure of the G20

Digital Transformation & Data


Cenfri contributes to building the fundamentals of welfare-enhancing digital economies. We prioritise digital transformation that is inclusive, sustainable, opportunity-creating and has appropriate safeguards. Digital transformation underpins much of our work and ranges from payments digitalisation to digital economy diagnostics, and digital skills assessments to direct digitalisation support.

Cenfri also collaborates with policymakers and other public and private sector stakeholders in data-driven decision-making that is calibrated to the data available and is designed to strengthen the existing skills and data governance processes within these organisations. The Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme is our flagship evidence-informed policymaking and data-for-decisions intervention, but we have considerable experience in using evidence to generate insights and inform policymaking and business decision-making with a view to improved economic development outcomes. Our expertise in data, payments and digital identity enables us to contribute to current DPI (digital public infrastructure) conversations.

Digital Transformation & Data

A pocket guide to navigating the structure of the G20

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 at the United Nations (UN), International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, announced that South Africa’s presidency will prioritise the Global South, particularly the African

Digital Transformation & Data

Leveraging agricultural data for more effective policymaking

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 mechanism to alleviate poverty in rural areas, targeting smallholder farmers. But how can policymakers be sure they are achieving the intended objectives of the policy?

Digital Transformation & Data

The evolution of the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Through strategic partnerships and focused initiatives, the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation (RED) programme has made significant progress in promoting data-driven decision-making in the country. I sat down with our Partnerships and Country Lead, Arlette Rwakazina, to talk about some of the achievements and challenges of the programme to date. We also

Digital Transformation & Data

Open Finance in South Africa: Promising moves, but challenges ahead

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 market towards growing the data sharing ecosystem in South Africa, but has it come too late?  My interest is both as a South African consumer

Digital Transformation & Data

Navigating a career in data science

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 driving innovation and strategic decision-making, data scientists play a significant role in practically every industry. Based on insights gained in our capacity development initiatives under

Digital Transformation & Data

Building the fundamentals of a welfare-enhancing digitalised economy

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 could create welfare-enhancing societal outcomes. Where does the impact break down and why? What are the risks of negative impacts and how to manage societies’

Consumer Outcomes

The Africa Fintech Hub – a platform designed to strengthen fintechs in Africa

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 and level of maturity that would make them viable alternatives to the offerings from traditional financial service providers. This is particularly true for fintechs launched

Consumer Outcomes

Supporting the development of a digital finance index

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

Digital Transformation & Data

Guidance on developing a data and analytics strategy

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 internal data, it becomes clear that data is not standardised and is often housed in different siloes of the organisation. Drawing from our experience in

Digital Transformation & Data

A decade of microinsurance innovation: promising or ‘meh’?

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 10 years. This is a short excerpt from the full interview. You can read more of the interview on the MicroInsurance Network site. Q: What