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Governance, Policy & Regulation

Policymakers, regulators and supervisors in emerging markets are under pressure to develop, implement and enforce policy and regulation that conforms to global best practice but is effective locally despite considerable constraints. Cenfri leverages the legal background, policymaking and regulatory experience of key team members and assists via direct regulatory development or policy guidance but more often through technical assistance and skills building. 

Much of our work has been in the financial sector across Africa, Asia and Latin America. This includes an impressive “regulating for innovation” portfolio in support of financial sector regulators who are grappling with innovation or market development mandates in regulatory environments that do not effectively accommodate the range of risks presented by new financial service innovations. We also support improved digital and data governance in Africa. Examples range from creating a set of scenarios on the possible digital futures in Africa, to developing a data-sharing policy for the Government of Rwanda and researching fit-for-context open finance solutions for Africa. 
Governance, Policy & Regulation

The role of insurance regulators in dealing with consumer data protection risks

Across industries, businesses are collecting, storing and using increasing amounts of consumer data. This has been made possible by the growth in broadband connectivity, particularly through smartphone penetration, and the increased capacity to collect and share data on individuals. Technological developments in data analytics have increasingly allowed businesses to use

Read More »
9 May, 2018
Regulating for Innovation webinar
Digital Transformation & Data

Regulating for innovation: How to encourage responsible market innovation

For regulators, the dual implications of innovation make it a critically important but challenging topic to address. Regulators with a mandate to encourage market development and sectoral growth are obliged to encourage innovative providers and products that help to drive this market development and enhance consumer value. However, regulators are

Read More »
5 January, 2018
MAP Zambia diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion
Financial Inclusion

MAP Zambia diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion

From 2009 to 2015 the proportion of adults, financially excluded from any financial service, decreased from 63% to 41% in Zambia, which exceeded the Zambian Government‘s national target of 50%. More than 14% of these adults now use mobile money services, whilst the largest growth has been in the use

Read More »
9 December, 2017
Digital Transformation & Data

Data Portal

The Data Portal, first launched under the insight2impact programme, is now hosted by FinMark Trust. Compare indicators across countries and periods. Start by gaining a broad overview of the financial market through National Surveys, (which are nationally representative surveys of adults in a particular country) demonstrate how people source their income

Read More »
7 September, 2017
Delivering on the promise of digitising payments in Zambia
Digital Transformation & Data

Delivering on the promise of digitising payments in Zambia

Digital financial inclusion holds great promise. Last year, a McKinsey report found that digital finance could add up to $3.7 trillion to the GDP of emerging economies within a decade. A recent blog from the World Bank explains that the biggest impact from financial inclusion comes from digital payments and savings accounts. Studies

Read More »
30 June, 2017
Financial Inclusion

Diving into the data

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are recognised globally as a major engine of growth and employment creation. Access to finance is their most commonly cited barrier to growth. The IFC estimates that there are between 200 and 245 million formal and informal MSMEs in developing countries that do not

Read More »
10 May, 2017
Financial Inclusion

MAP DRC diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may be one of the most challenging environments for financial services. From both a provider and consumer perspective, infrastructure, a rapidly changing financial services landscape and regional disparities pose significant challenges to the market. In 2014, the Ministry of Finance formally requested UNCDF’s

Read More »
5 May, 2017
Financial Inclusion

MAP Madagascar diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion

MAP Madagascar 2017 found that the island state has a largely agrarian population vulnerable to the extremes of nature: 72% of adults depended on agriculture, more than 4.2m adults experienced a climate-related shock in the preceding year, and at least 40% reported being uncertain about whether they will have food

Read More »
28 April, 2017
Financial Inclusion

Save me from myself

Exploring the disconnect between providers and consumers of savings products in Zambia “Yes, I do save. I have a bank account in Kabwe, two hours away.” “Why so far away when there are banks here in Chisamba?” “It keeps me disciplined! I know that if I have to travel two

Read More »
22 March, 2017
Financial Inclusion

What use is financial inclusion, when you can’t pay the bills?

The 2017 budget, unveiled by the Minister of Finance Honourable Felix Mutati in Zambia earlier this month incorporates new austerity measures but has incorporated significant increases in social welfare benefits. . However, restricted liquidity conditions in the Zambian economy have significantly impacted access to capital and finance, hindering the expansion

Read More »
8 December, 2016
Governance, Policy & Regulation

The role of insurance regulators in dealing with consumer data protection risks

Across industries, businesses are collecting, storing and using increasing amounts of consumer data. This has been made possible by the growth in broadband connectivity, particularly through smartphone penetration, and the increased capacity to collect and share data on individuals. Technological developments in data analytics have increasingly allowed businesses to use

9 May, 2018
Regulating for Innovation webinar
Digital Transformation & Data

Regulating for innovation: How to encourage responsible market innovation

For regulators, the dual implications of innovation make it a critically important but challenging topic to address. Regulators with a mandate to encourage market development and sectoral growth are obliged to encourage innovative providers and products that help to drive this market development and enhance consumer value. However, regulators are

5 January, 2018
MAP Zambia diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion
Financial Inclusion

MAP Zambia diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion

From 2009 to 2015 the proportion of adults, financially excluded from any financial service, decreased from 63% to 41% in Zambia, which exceeded the Zambian Government‘s national target of 50%. More than 14% of these adults now use mobile money services, whilst the largest growth has been in the use

9 December, 2017
Digital Transformation & Data

Data Portal

The Data Portal, first launched under the insight2impact programme, is now hosted by FinMark Trust. Compare indicators across countries and periods. Start by gaining a broad overview of the financial market through National Surveys, (which are nationally representative surveys of adults in a particular country) demonstrate how people source their income

7 September, 2017
Delivering on the promise of digitising payments in Zambia
Digital Transformation & Data

Delivering on the promise of digitising payments in Zambia

Digital financial inclusion holds great promise. Last year, a McKinsey report found that digital finance could add up to $3.7 trillion to the GDP of emerging economies within a decade. A recent blog from the World Bank explains that the biggest impact from financial inclusion comes from digital payments and savings accounts. Studies

30 June, 2017
Financial Inclusion

Diving into the data

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are recognised globally as a major engine of growth and employment creation. Access to finance is their most commonly cited barrier to growth. The IFC estimates that there are between 200 and 245 million formal and informal MSMEs in developing countries that do not

10 May, 2017
Financial Inclusion

MAP DRC diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may be one of the most challenging environments for financial services. From both a provider and consumer perspective, infrastructure, a rapidly changing financial services landscape and regional disparities pose significant challenges to the market. In 2014, the Ministry of Finance formally requested UNCDF’s

5 May, 2017
Financial Inclusion

MAP Madagascar diagnostic and roadmap to financial inclusion

MAP Madagascar 2017 found that the island state has a largely agrarian population vulnerable to the extremes of nature: 72% of adults depended on agriculture, more than 4.2m adults experienced a climate-related shock in the preceding year, and at least 40% reported being uncertain about whether they will have food

28 April, 2017
Financial Inclusion

Save me from myself

Exploring the disconnect between providers and consumers of savings products in Zambia “Yes, I do save. I have a bank account in Kabwe, two hours away.” “Why so far away when there are banks here in Chisamba?” “It keeps me disciplined! I know that if I have to travel two

22 March, 2017
Financial Inclusion

What use is financial inclusion, when you can’t pay the bills?

The 2017 budget, unveiled by the Minister of Finance Honourable Felix Mutati in Zambia earlier this month incorporates new austerity measures but has incorporated significant increases in social welfare benefits. . However, restricted liquidity conditions in the Zambian economy have significantly impacted access to capital and finance, hindering the expansion

8 December, 2016