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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.

How are African digital platforms shaping the economic development conversation?
Digital Transformation & Data

How are African digital platforms shaping the economic development conversation?

Insights from an expert workshop on the potential of African digital platforms to influence development African digital platforms are giving rise to new financial needs; creating and bridging barriers to financial and economic inclusion; and revolutionising the informal economic activities of merchants and individuals. These platforms can have both positive

Read More »
10 January, 2019
Digital Transformation & Data

Payment systems in sub-Saharan Africa

This two-part note series explores the state of national and regional payment systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Note 1 explores themes and imperatives for national and regional payment systems that enable remittances. It provides an overview of the regulatory frameworks in SSA and the principles to be considered to mitigate risks

Read More »
21 December, 2018
Leadership and police insurance COVID-19
Digital Transformation & Data

Bizfundi: Improving credit access through tailored business advice

Targeting small businesses with personalised business advice and predicting successful loan applications Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a key role in economic development, but they face challenges in accessing finance. This case study explores a Tanzanian initiative that aims to support MSMEs – particularly those owned by women and youth –

Read More »
14 December, 2018
Digital identity
Digital Transformation & Data

Democratising KYC requirements

Paul Damalie, CEO of Inclusive Innovations Inc., and winner of the Ghana leg of DataHack4FI Season 2, explains how he is growing his digital identity business.  You started the business in 2016. Tell us about your journey in building an African identify solution.  After completing high school, I joined an insurance

Read More »
7 December, 2018
Digital Transformation & Data

African digital platforms and the future of digital financial services

As societies and economies change, so should the financial products that serve them The insight2impact facility in partnership with Research ICT Africa have created this series of infographics to describe their key findings on multi-sided platforms as part of the exploration on the rise of African digital platforms, and the individuals

Read More »
29 November, 2018
Digital Transformation & Data

A-trader: Promoting investment and savings with robo-advisor services

A case study on DataHack4FI Innovation Award winner for Tanzania  A-trader seeks to assist fellow Tanzanians in reaching their financial and investment goals. It seeks to do this by breaking down the barriers faced by these individuals in accessing investment opportunities. Its flagship product, the A-trader Digital Platform, allows beginner

Read More »
8 November, 2018
Busy street Kenya
Digital Transformation & Data

Inclusive insurance enhanced through the use of client data

How different types of alternative and traditional client data solve key challenges in inclusive insurance provision This publication adds depth to the discussion of the use of client data in inclusive insurance provision, by examining the specific applications of different types of data to different key insurance activities. The explosion

Read More »
23 October, 2018
Shaping ethical and inclusive digital economies
Digital Transformation & Data

Shaping ethical and inclusive digital economies

Marissa Dean of Caribou Digital (and i2i Advisory Panel member) talks to us about data and digital development in the financial sector.  Your report Can Big Data Shape Financial Services in East Africa suggests that (for the credit market at any rate), many alternative datasets have limited value in extending financial inclusion. Could you explain

Read More »
19 October, 2018
Man on a bike using mobile phone
Digital Transformation & Data

Into Africa: Digitisation and financial services

A publication for Capital Markets in Africa Digitalisation: Africa’s future “Across Africa, eCommerce platforms flanked by payments, logistics, tourism and big data partners are starting to lift national economies. Technological disruption is transforming markets and societies across Africa in ways that wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago. And

Read More »
18 October, 2018
How are African digital platforms shaping the economic development conversation?
Digital Transformation & Data

How are African digital platforms shaping the economic development conversation?

Insights from an expert workshop on the potential of African digital platforms to influence development African digital platforms are giving rise to new financial needs; creating and bridging barriers to financial and economic inclusion; and revolutionising the informal economic activities of merchants and individuals. These platforms can have both positive

10 January, 2019
Digital Transformation & Data

Payment systems in sub-Saharan Africa

This two-part note series explores the state of national and regional payment systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Note 1 explores themes and imperatives for national and regional payment systems that enable remittances. It provides an overview of the regulatory frameworks in SSA and the principles to be considered to mitigate risks

21 December, 2018
Leadership and police insurance COVID-19
Digital Transformation & Data

Bizfundi: Improving credit access through tailored business advice

Targeting small businesses with personalised business advice and predicting successful loan applications Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a key role in economic development, but they face challenges in accessing finance. This case study explores a Tanzanian initiative that aims to support MSMEs – particularly those owned by women and youth –

14 December, 2018
Digital platform ecosystem
Digital Transformation & Data

The potential of digital platforms as distributors and enablers of insurance in Africa

The past decade has seen the emergence of digital platforms. These digital platforms (also known as multi-sided platforms[1]) connect buyers and sellers of goods and services and allow them to seamlessly transact with one another. They are providing new ways for workers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and consumers

11 December, 2018
Digital identity
Digital Transformation & Data

Democratising KYC requirements

Paul Damalie, CEO of Inclusive Innovations Inc., and winner of the Ghana leg of DataHack4FI Season 2, explains how he is growing his digital identity business.  You started the business in 2016. Tell us about your journey in building an African identify solution.  After completing high school, I joined an insurance

7 December, 2018
Digital Transformation & Data

African digital platforms and the future of digital financial services

As societies and economies change, so should the financial products that serve them The insight2impact facility in partnership with Research ICT Africa have created this series of infographics to describe their key findings on multi-sided platforms as part of the exploration on the rise of African digital platforms, and the individuals

29 November, 2018
Digital Transformation & Data

A-trader: Promoting investment and savings with robo-advisor services

A case study on DataHack4FI Innovation Award winner for Tanzania  A-trader seeks to assist fellow Tanzanians in reaching their financial and investment goals. It seeks to do this by breaking down the barriers faced by these individuals in accessing investment opportunities. Its flagship product, the A-trader Digital Platform, allows beginner

8 November, 2018
Busy street Kenya
Digital Transformation & Data

Inclusive insurance enhanced through the use of client data

How different types of alternative and traditional client data solve key challenges in inclusive insurance provision This publication adds depth to the discussion of the use of client data in inclusive insurance provision, by examining the specific applications of different types of data to different key insurance activities. The explosion

23 October, 2018
Shaping ethical and inclusive digital economies
Digital Transformation & Data

Shaping ethical and inclusive digital economies

Marissa Dean of Caribou Digital (and i2i Advisory Panel member) talks to us about data and digital development in the financial sector.  Your report Can Big Data Shape Financial Services in East Africa suggests that (for the credit market at any rate), many alternative datasets have limited value in extending financial inclusion. Could you explain

19 October, 2018
Man on a bike using mobile phone
Digital Transformation & Data

Into Africa: Digitisation and financial services

A publication for Capital Markets in Africa Digitalisation: Africa’s future “Across Africa, eCommerce platforms flanked by payments, logistics, tourism and big data partners are starting to lift national economies. Technological disruption is transforming markets and societies across Africa in ways that wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago. And

18 October, 2018