Cenfri has broad experience in fit-for-purpose payment systems in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. We work towards making retail payments a public good, assisting central banks, payments operators and payment system participants navigate domestic and cross-border payments modernisation in a manner that contributes to economic inclusion.
We have worked extensively in instant/faster retail payment systems and in improving access to remittances for low-income households. Other projects range from diagnostic and landscaping studies, developing a national payments vision, to analysing payments legislation and regulation, and feasibility studies on central bank digital currency (CBDC). The convergence of payments and identity, as well as the focus on digitising the entire value chain rather than limited use cases, is central to our theory of change in digital payments.
We have worked with IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances, the World Bank, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, AfricaNenda, FSD Africa, FSD Kenya, GIZ, UNCDF, BankservAfrica, Finmark Trust, the African Union and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.
Increasingly, the mobile phone is being used throughout the microinsurance value chain to enable access to insurance for millions of people who otherwise would have no cover. CGAP’s recent brief notes that mobile microinsurance products are not only growing in number with 15 new products launched in the first eight
Between 2003 and 2011, the provision of bank accounts in South Africa grew from 30% to 46%. Technology and branchless solutions play key roles in improving access to financial services. Physical bank branches are, however, often critical to persistent high-value take-up and use of financial products as it plays an
In 2012, it was estimated that 3.3m SADC migrant workers in South Africa sent around R11.2 billion home each year; R7.6 billion of which is estimated to flow through informal channels such as sending cash with a bus or taxi driver. The sheer volume of cross-border remittance flows and the
This 2010 study is concerned with the remittance of funds to Zimbabwe from South Africa and assesses the suitability of the 90-day casual worker’s permit issued to Zimbabweans as a tool for financial inclusion with a focus on the remittance of funds to Zimbabwe. Whilst the 90-day permit ceased to
This study, undertaken by Saul Kerzner, was commissioned by Cenfri, on behalf of the FinMark Trust, to sketch a picture of the remittances landscape in the Johannesburg-Zimbabwe corridor. The aim was to build an understanding of the dynamics of remittances sent to Zimbabwe and the drivers of change and to
As economic hub of the region, South Africa attracts a large number of migrant workers from neighbouring countries, many of them without the necessary documentation and work permits. Regardless of their status, migrants send money home to families that are often dependent on these remittances for survival. Though the majority
In 2009, the South African government amended the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act (RICA) by introducing identification and verification measures for mobile phone users. The country’s experience of introducing similar requirements under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) showed that identity verification could be a problematic requirement for low-income
This Cenfri research project conducted for the Finmark Trust Zambia provides an overview of the remittances landscape in Zambia considering the trends, opportunities and challenges. The purpose of this document is to provide a basis for debate amongst industry, regulators and other interested parties and identify areas for future research.
Zimbabwe is heavily reliant on remittance flows from South Africa and particularly Johannesburg. As many Zimbabweans are undocumented, they cannot access formal channels for money transfers. This 2009 study was commissioned to sketch a picture of the remittances landscape in the Johannesburg-Zimbabwe corridor. The aim was to build an understanding
Increasingly, the mobile phone is being used throughout the microinsurance value chain to enable access to insurance for millions of people who otherwise would have no cover. CGAP’s recent brief notes that mobile microinsurance products are not only growing in number with 15 new products launched in the first eight
Between 2003 and 2011, the provision of bank accounts in South Africa grew from 30% to 46%. Technology and branchless solutions play key roles in improving access to financial services. Physical bank branches are, however, often critical to persistent high-value take-up and use of financial products as it plays an
In 2012, it was estimated that 3.3m SADC migrant workers in South Africa sent around R11.2 billion home each year; R7.6 billion of which is estimated to flow through informal channels such as sending cash with a bus or taxi driver. The sheer volume of cross-border remittance flows and the
This 2010 study is concerned with the remittance of funds to Zimbabwe from South Africa and assesses the suitability of the 90-day casual worker’s permit issued to Zimbabweans as a tool for financial inclusion with a focus on the remittance of funds to Zimbabwe. Whilst the 90-day permit ceased to
This study, undertaken by Saul Kerzner, was commissioned by Cenfri, on behalf of the FinMark Trust, to sketch a picture of the remittances landscape in the Johannesburg-Zimbabwe corridor. The aim was to build an understanding of the dynamics of remittances sent to Zimbabwe and the drivers of change and to
As economic hub of the region, South Africa attracts a large number of migrant workers from neighbouring countries, many of them without the necessary documentation and work permits. Regardless of their status, migrants send money home to families that are often dependent on these remittances for survival. Though the majority
In 2009, the South African government amended the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act (RICA) by introducing identification and verification measures for mobile phone users. The country’s experience of introducing similar requirements under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) showed that identity verification could be a problematic requirement for low-income
This Cenfri research project conducted for the Finmark Trust Zambia provides an overview of the remittances landscape in Zambia considering the trends, opportunities and challenges. The purpose of this document is to provide a basis for debate amongst industry, regulators and other interested parties and identify areas for future research.
Zimbabwe is heavily reliant on remittance flows from South Africa and particularly Johannesburg. As many Zimbabweans are undocumented, they cannot access formal channels for money transfers. This 2009 study was commissioned to sketch a picture of the remittances landscape in the Johannesburg-Zimbabwe corridor. The aim was to build an understanding
