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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. 

Responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in financial services
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in 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. This note puts the spotlight on the first topic, namely responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in financial services.  AI is

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17 June, 2021
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Interoperability of data

The next paradigm shift for financial markets in the development world Last year I had the opportunity to interview an executive at one of Malawi’s biggest banks. The topic of discussion was innovation and what can be done to better enable it in Malawi’s payments sector. He pointed to the

Read More »
15 June, 2021
Opportunities and challenges to innovation in the Ugandan insurance market
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Opportunities and challenges to innovation in the Ugandan insurance market

Most Ugandans face insurable risks, yet uptake of insurance remains very low at only 1.4%. Innovations in global insurance markets have illustrated how insurance can be better designed, offer more affordably and thus provide better value for customers. Uganda enacted a new Insurance Act in 2018. This act expanded the

Read More »
15 June, 2021
The privatisation of governance
Governance, Policy & Regulation

The privatisation of governance

Just a few years ago, there were strict rules about who was allowed to provide which services in what countries, with national governments controlling the products and services offered in their jurisdictions. Things have changed. Take the financial sector. Typically, a global player would either have to work via a

Read More »
10 June, 2021
An inclusive digital identity platform in the Pacific Islands: country-level diagnostics
Digital Transformation & Data

An inclusive digital identity platform in the Pacific Islands

Digital identity is increasingly becoming the key enabler of digital inclusion across the globe. We conducted three country diagnostic studies to understand and assess the use cases and ecosystem requirements for a digital identity (ID) platform in the Pacific Island countries of Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This research

Read More »
10 June, 2021
The new nexus: digital governance, digital financial services and the SDGs
Governance, Policy & Regulation

The new nexus: digital governance, digital financial services and the SDGs

What is the New Nexus Initiative?  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 digital meetups connect development partners, industry experts, academics,

Read More »
9 June, 2021
Partnership announcement for digital transformation in Rwanda
Digital Transformation & Data

Partnership announcement for digital transformation in Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda, 2 June 2021: Today, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in Rwanda, Cenfri, and the Mastercard Foundation have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to kick-off an ambitious three-year digital transformation programme in Rwanda aiming at harnessing Rwanda’s big data to enhance the Government’s digital capabilities and systems. Building

Read More »
2 June, 2021
The case for insurance innovators to consider the cell captive regulatory model
Digital Transformation & Data

The case for insurance innovators to consider the cell captive regulatory model

 In many African countries, the potential for inclusive insurance markets is significant, however, this potential has yet to be fully realised. High entry barriers for new innovative players and regulation that may not effectively accommodate them are important contributing factors.   The cell captive model has emerged as a way for entrepreneurs or organisations with an insurance business

Read More »
3 May, 2021
Policy catalogue on MSMEs financing in Africa
Governance, Policy & Regulation

MSMEs financing in Africa  

A framework for enabling access to finance for MSMEs in Africa    Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been cited as one of the strongest drivers of economic development, job creation and innovation. Yet one of the biggest constraints stifling MSMEs growth, particularly in Africa, is the difficulty associated with accessing finance (Bruhn et al.,

Read More »
8 April, 2021
Rethinking governance in a digital age
Digital Transformation & Data

Rethinking governance in a digital age

WIRED: Social media CEOs hearing can’t defend their business model When Clive Humby (while advising UK retailer Tesco on the use of data in their loyalty programme), invented the now overused mantra that “data is the new oil” he most likely did not anticipate that the analogy would extend to the negative consequences of the oil economy

Read More »
1 April, 2021
Responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in financial services
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in 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. This note puts the spotlight on the first topic, namely responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in financial services.  AI is

17 June, 2021
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Interoperability of data

The next paradigm shift for financial markets in the development world Last year I had the opportunity to interview an executive at one of Malawi’s biggest banks. The topic of discussion was innovation and what can be done to better enable it in Malawi’s payments sector. He pointed to the

15 June, 2021
Opportunities and challenges to innovation in the Ugandan insurance market
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Opportunities and challenges to innovation in the Ugandan insurance market

Most Ugandans face insurable risks, yet uptake of insurance remains very low at only 1.4%. Innovations in global insurance markets have illustrated how insurance can be better designed, offer more affordably and thus provide better value for customers. Uganda enacted a new Insurance Act in 2018. This act expanded the

15 June, 2021
The privatisation of governance
Governance, Policy & Regulation

The privatisation of governance

Just a few years ago, there were strict rules about who was allowed to provide which services in what countries, with national governments controlling the products and services offered in their jurisdictions. Things have changed. Take the financial sector. Typically, a global player would either have to work via a

10 June, 2021
An inclusive digital identity platform in the Pacific Islands: country-level diagnostics
Digital Transformation & Data

An inclusive digital identity platform in the Pacific Islands

Digital identity is increasingly becoming the key enabler of digital inclusion across the globe. We conducted three country diagnostic studies to understand and assess the use cases and ecosystem requirements for a digital identity (ID) platform in the Pacific Island countries of Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This research

10 June, 2021
The new nexus: digital governance, digital financial services and the SDGs
Governance, Policy & Regulation

The new nexus: digital governance, digital financial services and the SDGs

What is the New Nexus Initiative?  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 digital meetups connect development partners, industry experts, academics,

9 June, 2021
Partnership announcement for digital transformation in Rwanda
Digital Transformation & Data

Partnership announcement for digital transformation in Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda, 2 June 2021: Today, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in Rwanda, Cenfri, and the Mastercard Foundation have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to kick-off an ambitious three-year digital transformation programme in Rwanda aiming at harnessing Rwanda’s big data to enhance the Government’s digital capabilities and systems. Building

2 June, 2021
The case for insurance innovators to consider the cell captive regulatory model
Digital Transformation & Data

The case for insurance innovators to consider the cell captive regulatory model

 In many African countries, the potential for inclusive insurance markets is significant, however, this potential has yet to be fully realised. High entry barriers for new innovative players and regulation that may not effectively accommodate them are important contributing factors.   The cell captive model has emerged as a way for entrepreneurs or organisations with an insurance business

3 May, 2021
Policy catalogue on MSMEs financing in Africa
Governance, Policy & Regulation

MSMEs financing in Africa  

A framework for enabling access to finance for MSMEs in Africa    Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been cited as one of the strongest drivers of economic development, job creation and innovation. Yet one of the biggest constraints stifling MSMEs growth, particularly in Africa, is the difficulty associated with accessing finance (Bruhn et al.,

8 April, 2021
Rethinking governance in a digital age
Digital Transformation & Data

Rethinking governance in a digital age

WIRED: Social media CEOs hearing can’t defend their business model When Clive Humby (while advising UK retailer Tesco on the use of data in their loyalty programme), invented the now overused mantra that “data is the new oil” he most likely did not anticipate that the analogy would extend to the negative consequences of the oil economy

1 April, 2021