Now reading: 15 innovations in data collection methods: Broadening the financial inclusion survey toolkit

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

7 innovations in quantitative research: Broadening the financial inclusion survey toolkit

In a previous blog on 10 innovations in qualitative research, I wrote about the importance of using a greater variety of research designs, methods and data collection techniques when conducting financial inclusion research. Similarly, this blog discusses some innovative quantitative methods that could be used when conducting financial inclusion research.

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Digital Transformation & Data

10 innovations in qualitative research

Demand-side surveys (DSS) in financial inclusion are growing in popularity. These are surveys that focus on the consumers of financial services and, though this increase is encouraging, we find that existing DSS rely heavily on standard cross-sectional survey designs, and often ignore emerging qualitative survey techniques. Sticking to traditional methods is fine if we want to superficially cover a broad range of financial topics and get an aggregated measure of financial inclusion. However, limiting ourselves to focus groups and in-depth interviews can mean missing out on valuable data that will shed light on how best we can service low-income individuals with useful financial products.

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DataHack4FI Final
Digital Transformation & Data

DataHack4FI Final – Data Science and Financial Inclusion

As a researcher, few experiences are more gratifying than seeing your research come to life. With this in mind, we started our seven-month #DataHack4FI competition, bringing together young data enthusiasts, innovation hubs, development partners, fintechs and financial service providers (FSPs) to mobilise the data market around financial inclusion. From the

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Digital Transformation & Data

Transform Africa Summit

Highlights, Kigali, Rwanda, 10 -12 May 2017. insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

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Digital Transformation & Data

DataHack4FI innovation competition

DataHack4FI is an innovation competition bringing together data enthusiasts and financial service providers (FSPs) to promote the use of data-driven decision-making in financial inclusion. insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

The tip of the (data) iceberg in Uganda

Faith owns a small fruit-selling business in Uganda. Like most small business owners in Uganda, Faith started her enterprise with her own income and lacks access to finance to grow beyond the few fruit stalls she owns. She doesn’t keep full financial records and lives most of her life informally

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

Interview with Jessica Colaço, Co-Founder Brave Ventures Labs

Listen to the interview with Jessica Colaço, Co-Founder Brave Ventures Labs on the DataHack4FI Innovation Competition in Kenya insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

Interview with Anthony Mabonga, Credit Risk Analyst at M-Kopa

Listen to the interview with Anthony Mabonga, Credit Risk Analyst at M-Kopa on the DataHack4FI Innovation Competition in Kenya insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

DataHack4FI – Data innovation competition

The Datahack4FI innovation competition in Rwanda. insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

7 innovations in quantitative research: Broadening the financial inclusion survey toolkit

In a previous blog on 10 innovations in qualitative research, I wrote about the importance of using a greater variety of research designs, methods and data collection techniques when conducting financial inclusion research. Similarly, this blog discusses some innovative quantitative methods that could be used when conducting financial inclusion research.

Digital Transformation & Data

10 innovations in qualitative research

Demand-side surveys (DSS) in financial inclusion are growing in popularity. These are surveys that focus on the consumers of financial services and, though this increase is encouraging, we find that existing DSS rely heavily on standard cross-sectional survey designs, and often ignore emerging qualitative survey techniques. Sticking to traditional methods is

DataHack4FI Final
Digital Transformation & Data

DataHack4FI Final – Data Science and Financial Inclusion

As a researcher, few experiences are more gratifying than seeing your research come to life. With this in mind, we started our seven-month #DataHack4FI competition, bringing together young data enthusiasts, innovation hubs, development partners, fintechs and financial service providers (FSPs) to mobilise the data market around financial inclusion. From the

Digital Transformation & Data

Transform Africa Summit

Highlights, Kigali, Rwanda, 10 -12 May 2017. insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Digital Transformation & Data

DataHack4FI innovation competition

DataHack4FI is an innovation competition bringing together data enthusiasts and financial service providers (FSPs) to promote the use of data-driven decision-making in financial inclusion. insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Digital Transformation & Data

The tip of the (data) iceberg in Uganda

Faith owns a small fruit-selling business in Uganda. Like most small business owners in Uganda, Faith started her enterprise with her own income and lacks access to finance to grow beyond the few fruit stalls she owns. She doesn’t keep full financial records and lives most of her life informally

Digital Transformation & Data

Interview with Jessica Colaço, Co-Founder Brave Ventures Labs

Listen to the interview with Jessica Colaço, Co-Founder Brave Ventures Labs on the DataHack4FI Innovation Competition in Kenya insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Digital Transformation & Data

Interview with Anthony Mabonga, Credit Risk Analyst at M-Kopa

Listen to the interview with Anthony Mabonga, Credit Risk Analyst at M-Kopa on the DataHack4FI Innovation Competition in Kenya insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.

Digital Transformation & Data

DataHack4FI – Data innovation competition

The Datahack4FI innovation competition in Rwanda. insight2impact (i2ifacility) was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The programme was established and driven by Cenfri and Finmark Trust.