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MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Improved economic opportunity and more resilient livelihoods are key to sustainable development in emerging markets. Interventions designed to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), startup ecosystems and more established value-chains need to be effective in unlocking innovation and employment if they are to contribute to economic growth. Cenfri undertakes several areas of related work including:

Digital economy diagnostics
Support for fintech innovation and research on the platform economy
Digital transformation of MSMEs (including innovations in logistics and digital tools for tourism businesses)
MSME finance – payments, credit, investment and resilience (rethinking insurance to meet MSME needs and better manage the risks they face)
MSME segmentation
Technical assistance to the private sector
Scenarios linked to the future of work and food security

Holistic interventions for MSME resilience 
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Holistic interventions for MSME resilience 

A guidebook using nine Asian countries (Cambodia, India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam) under the GIZ Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk Management Framework.  Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of many economies globally. They contribute considerably to economic growth, employment and innovation. The IFC estimates that MSMEs account

Read More »
7 April, 2021
From product provider to trusted risk advisor
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

From product provider to trusted risk advisor

Unlocking the SME insurance market through a holistic approach to building resilience. I recently moved into an apartment above a popular Cape Town restaurant, the owner of which is also my landlord. Last week, the restaurant had a major leak that took a plumber three days to fix. Fixing a

Read More »
29 March, 2021
Digital platforms supporting MSMEs through Africa’s COVID-19 crisis
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

Digital platforms supporting MSMEs through Africa’s COVID-19 crisis

The global COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of connectedness – and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa are no exception. As MSMEs begin a path to recovery in 2021, digital platforms can be a way to get them reconnected. The impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs in Africa

Read More »
15 March, 2021
Africa fintech radar
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

Building the first pan-African fintech census and digital map

Africa Fintech Network (AFN), in partnership with global data analytics firm findexable and independent African think tank Cenfri, are launching the first pan-African fintech census and digital map to track fintech activity across the whole of Africa. The Africa Fintech Radar initiative will drive visibility and awareness of Africa’s fintech innovation ecosystems before a

Read More »
30 November, 2020
MSME microinsurance
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Managing risks (more) effectively: Rethinking insurance for MSMEs 

MSMEs form the backbone of many economies globally and give rise to economic growth, employment and innovation. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the extreme vulnerability of MSMEs to exogenous shocks and risks. However, the uptake and use of insurance remains extremely low for this group. In sub- Saharan Africa, it

Read More »
5 November, 2020
The new nexus: digital governance, digital financial services and the SDGs
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Researching outside the box

The benefits and challenges of systems practice for engaged ecosystem research At the beginning of this year, Cenfri set out to understand the tech innovation ecosystems in Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos, joined (for the Lagos project) by our partners at the Lagos Business School. As perpetually curious researchers, we are well-versed in gathering large quantities of

Read More »
29 September, 2020
Innovation ecosystem
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

Innovation ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa: How to enable flourishing innovation?

Insights from Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos  With a growing number of tech start-ups, hubs, accelerators and other innovation facilitators, Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos have put themselves on the map as important innovation ecosystems in Africa. Innovation is a key force for economic growth and development. Not only can it lead to greater efficiencies and productivity, it also

Read More »
31 August, 2020
Covid-19 and insurers
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Insurers can play a key role in getting societies back to work

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, insurance should be a primary mechanism for many people across the world to cope. Instead, the limited penetration of insurance products in developing countries has pushed insurance to the periphery. However, all is not lost. Insurers still have a key role to play

Read More »
26 May, 2020
Africa Fintech Radar
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

New partnership: Africa Fintech Network and Cenfri

The Africa Fintech Network (AFN) and Cenfri are pleased to announce the signing of their new Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU underlines the shared interest of AFN and Cenfri in developing and strengthening fintech across the continent and describes the practical support that we will give each other. AFN is the continent-wide platform that

Read More »
14 May, 2020
Holistic interventions for MSME resilience 
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Holistic interventions for MSME resilience 

A guidebook using nine Asian countries (Cambodia, India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam) under the GIZ Integrated Climate and Disaster Risk Management Framework.  Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of many economies globally. They contribute considerably to economic growth, employment and innovation. The IFC estimates that MSMEs account

7 April, 2021
From product provider to trusted risk advisor
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

From product provider to trusted risk advisor

Unlocking the SME insurance market through a holistic approach to building resilience. I recently moved into an apartment above a popular Cape Town restaurant, the owner of which is also my landlord. Last week, the restaurant had a major leak that took a plumber three days to fix. Fixing a

29 March, 2021
Digital platforms supporting MSMEs through Africa’s COVID-19 crisis
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

Digital platforms supporting MSMEs through Africa’s COVID-19 crisis

The global COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of connectedness – and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa are no exception. As MSMEs begin a path to recovery in 2021, digital platforms can be a way to get them reconnected. The impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs in Africa

15 March, 2021
Africa fintech radar
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

Building the first pan-African fintech census and digital map

Africa Fintech Network (AFN), in partnership with global data analytics firm findexable and independent African think tank Cenfri, are launching the first pan-African fintech census and digital map to track fintech activity across the whole of Africa. The Africa Fintech Radar initiative will drive visibility and awareness of Africa’s fintech innovation ecosystems before a

30 November, 2020
MSME microinsurance
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Managing risks (more) effectively: Rethinking insurance for MSMEs 

MSMEs form the backbone of many economies globally and give rise to economic growth, employment and innovation. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the extreme vulnerability of MSMEs to exogenous shocks and risks. However, the uptake and use of insurance remains extremely low for this group. In sub- Saharan Africa, it

5 November, 2020
The new nexus: digital governance, digital financial services and the SDGs
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Researching outside the box

The benefits and challenges of systems practice for engaged ecosystem research At the beginning of this year, Cenfri set out to understand the tech innovation ecosystems in Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos, joined (for the Lagos project) by our partners at the Lagos Business School. As perpetually curious researchers, we are well-versed in gathering large quantities of

29 September, 2020
Innovation ecosystem
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

Innovation ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa: How to enable flourishing innovation?

Insights from Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos  With a growing number of tech start-ups, hubs, accelerators and other innovation facilitators, Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos have put themselves on the map as important innovation ecosystems in Africa. Innovation is a key force for economic growth and development. Not only can it lead to greater efficiencies and productivity, it also

31 August, 2020
Covid-19 and insurers
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Insurers can play a key role in getting societies back to work

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, insurance should be a primary mechanism for many people across the world to cope. Instead, the limited penetration of insurance products in developing countries has pushed insurance to the periphery. However, all is not lost. Insurers still have a key role to play

26 May, 2020
Africa Fintech Radar
Digital Transformation, Data & AI

New partnership: Africa Fintech Network and Cenfri

The Africa Fintech Network (AFN) and Cenfri are pleased to announce the signing of their new Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU underlines the shared interest of AFN and Cenfri in developing and strengthening fintech across the continent and describes the practical support that we will give each other. AFN is the continent-wide platform that

14 May, 2020