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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. 

Can digital platforms transform first mile food logistics in Africa?
Digital Transformation & Data

Digitalisation to improve food supply chain efficiency

Can digital platforms transform first mile food logistics in Africa?  The agricultural sector is responsible for food security and is a major contributor to livelihoods across the globe, but particularly in Africa. The supply chains within the sector are vital to ensuring this contribution but they face severe fragmentation and efficiency challenges. Other industries, including logistics, have been disrupted by digital platforms and we want to explore how logistics platforms could improve the efficiency

Read More »
10 December, 2021
Regulatory adaptation: considering the changing role of financial regulators and responses to innovation
Financial Inclusion

Regulatory adaptation: The changing role of financial sector regulators

Considering the changing role of financial regulators and responses to innovation Innovation creates opportunities, enhances efficiencies, increases competition, drives scale, and improves the reach and value of financial products and services to consumers. For many financial regulators, innovation is a double-edged sword which also brings risk, and due to its

Read More »
11 November, 2021
Digitalizing farm to table supply chains in Asia
Digital Transformation & Data

Digitalizing farm to table supply chains in Asia

On-demand transport services and insurtech  Whether as a customer or a business, digital platforms that connect people and services are ubiquitous today. The adoption of technology in food logistics has presented the opportunity to transform agricultural and food systems with tools that are cheaper and quicker to implement. App-based logistics and transport systems have

Read More »
25 October, 2021
Unlocking the digital economy in Senegal
Digital Transformation & Data

Unlocking the digital economy in Senegal

The Mastercard Foundation has set an objective to enable 30 million young Africans, especially women, to secure employment that they see as dignified and fulfilling by 2030. In Senegal, MCF aims to create dignified and fulfilling work for 3 million young people over the coming decade.  This study aimed to understand the

Read More »
8 October, 2021
Digital Transformation & Data

Guidance on start-up support in Ethiopia

Recommendations to support digital start-ups Cenfri supported Digital Financial in producing a technical guide on the creation of a fund to support a digital start-up ecosystem in Ethiopia. This work was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Ethiopia in partnership with Digital Pathways at University of Oxford and

Read More »
23 September, 2021
Guidance for policymakers on financial health
Financial Inclusion

Guidance for policymakers on financial health

The UNSGSA Financial Health Working Group (FHWG) was convened by HM Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). The working group has released two publications aimed at helping policymakers understand and measure financial health, notably in the context of financial

Read More »
20 September, 2021
Digital Transformation & Data

Africa Fintech Radar: Fintechs operating in Africa

  In 2020, the Africa Fintech Network (AFN), in partnership with findexable and Cenfri, launched the Africa Fintech Radar project. This ongoing initiative strives to showcase and track fintechs operating in Africa through a live listing. The Radar provides critical information to understand the challenges, opportunities and levers for fintech

Read More »
13 September, 2021
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and illicit financial flows
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and illicit financial flows

Cenfri, with support from GIZ and in collaboration with On Think Tanks, is hosting a series of digital dialogues to explore issues at the intersection of digital governance, digital financial services (DFS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across emerging economies. The last couple of years have seen cryptocurrencies and other digital currencies rise in prominence.

Read More »
29 June, 2021
Transparent supply chains and the role of digital financial services
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Transparent supply chains and the role of digital financial services

Cenfri, with support from GIZ and in collaboration with On Think Tanks, is hosting a series of digital dialogues to explore issues at the intersection of digital governance, digital financial services (DFS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across emerging economies. There is increasing consumer and societal pressure for multinationals to ensure that products

Read More »
25 June, 2021
Financial sector innovation and cybersecurity risks
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Financial sector innovation and cybersecurity risks

Cenfri, with support from GIZ and in collaboration with On Think Tanks, is hosting a series of digital dialogues  to explore issues at the intersection of digital governance, digital financial services (DFS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across emerging economies. This note puts the spotlight on the second topic, namely financial sector innovation and cybersecurity risks. ​ Innovation in the development and

Read More »
21 June, 2021
Can digital platforms transform first mile food logistics in Africa?
Digital Transformation & Data

Digitalisation to improve food supply chain efficiency

Can digital platforms transform first mile food logistics in Africa?  The agricultural sector is responsible for food security and is a major contributor to livelihoods across the globe, but particularly in Africa. The supply chains within the sector are vital to ensuring this contribution but they face severe fragmentation and efficiency challenges. Other industries, including logistics, have been disrupted by digital platforms and we want to explore how logistics platforms could improve the efficiency

10 December, 2021
Regulatory adaptation: considering the changing role of financial regulators and responses to innovation
Financial Inclusion

Regulatory adaptation: The changing role of financial sector regulators

Considering the changing role of financial regulators and responses to innovation Innovation creates opportunities, enhances efficiencies, increases competition, drives scale, and improves the reach and value of financial products and services to consumers. For many financial regulators, innovation is a double-edged sword which also brings risk, and due to its

11 November, 2021
Digitalizing farm to table supply chains in Asia
Digital Transformation & Data

Digitalizing farm to table supply chains in Asia

On-demand transport services and insurtech  Whether as a customer or a business, digital platforms that connect people and services are ubiquitous today. The adoption of technology in food logistics has presented the opportunity to transform agricultural and food systems with tools that are cheaper and quicker to implement. App-based logistics and transport systems have

25 October, 2021
Unlocking the digital economy in Senegal
Digital Transformation & Data

Unlocking the digital economy in Senegal

The Mastercard Foundation has set an objective to enable 30 million young Africans, especially women, to secure employment that they see as dignified and fulfilling by 2030. In Senegal, MCF aims to create dignified and fulfilling work for 3 million young people over the coming decade.  This study aimed to understand the

8 October, 2021
Digital Transformation & Data

Guidance on start-up support in Ethiopia

Recommendations to support digital start-ups Cenfri supported Digital Financial in producing a technical guide on the creation of a fund to support a digital start-up ecosystem in Ethiopia. This work was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Ethiopia in partnership with Digital Pathways at University of Oxford and

23 September, 2021
Guidance for policymakers on financial health
Financial Inclusion

Guidance for policymakers on financial health

The UNSGSA Financial Health Working Group (FHWG) was convened by HM Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). The working group has released two publications aimed at helping policymakers understand and measure financial health, notably in the context of financial

20 September, 2021
Digital Transformation & Data

Africa Fintech Radar: Fintechs operating in Africa

  In 2020, the Africa Fintech Network (AFN), in partnership with findexable and Cenfri, launched the Africa Fintech Radar project. This ongoing initiative strives to showcase and track fintechs operating in Africa through a live listing. The Radar provides critical information to understand the challenges, opportunities and levers for fintech

13 September, 2021
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and illicit financial flows
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and illicit financial flows

Cenfri, with support from GIZ and in collaboration with On Think Tanks, is hosting a series of digital dialogues to explore issues at the intersection of digital governance, digital financial services (DFS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across emerging economies. The last couple of years have seen cryptocurrencies and other digital currencies rise in prominence.

29 June, 2021
Transparent supply chains and the role of digital financial services
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Transparent supply chains and the role of digital financial services

Cenfri, with support from GIZ and in collaboration with On Think Tanks, is hosting a series of digital dialogues to explore issues at the intersection of digital governance, digital financial services (DFS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across emerging economies. There is increasing consumer and societal pressure for multinationals to ensure that products

25 June, 2021
Financial sector innovation and cybersecurity risks
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Financial sector innovation and cybersecurity risks

Cenfri, with support from GIZ and in collaboration with On Think Tanks, is hosting a series of digital dialogues  to explore issues at the intersection of digital governance, digital financial services (DFS) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across emerging economies. This note puts the spotlight on the second topic, namely financial sector innovation and cybersecurity risks. ​ Innovation in the development and

21 June, 2021