Now reading: Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and financial inclusion

Technology and Innovation


Technology and innovation is changing the nature of financial markets. Innovation can create opportunities, enhance efficiencies, increase competition, drive scale, and improve the reach and value of financial products and services to consumers. However, with innovation also comes risk.

Much attention is currently placed on the development of new technologies, business models and on creating the regulatory space for these models to encourage and facilitate innovation whilst protecting consumers to support both market development and consumer protection.

Our work explores the benefits and risks of technology and innovation across Africa and Latin America. We work to understand, map and support the various drivers for inclusive innovation, including the development of sustainable and welfare-enhancing products.

The Latest in Technology and Innovation

Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and financial inclusion
What can CBDC do for emerging markets: a case for mobile money Central banks have started to actively explore central bank digital currency (CBDC) [...]
Four things we learned at the 2019 Seamless Southern Africa Conference
Understanding the state of digital payments in sub-Saharan Africa. The Seamless Southern Africa conference took place in Cape Town, South Africa, [...]
The evolution of agent networks in Africa
Case study: Kenya The majority of mobile-money flows continue to be dominated by cash-in and cash-out (CICO) transactions. This has led to the [...]
You matter more than you think: The role of actuaries in the digital age
Traditionally, actuaries find themselves poring over mortality tables and calculating complicated risks with limited data, particularly in emerging [...]
How are African digital platforms shaping the economic development conversation?
Insights from an expert workshop on the potential of African digital platforms to influence development African digital platforms are giving rise [...]
Payment systems in sub-Saharan Africa
This two-part note series explores the state of national and regional payment systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Note 1 explores themes and [...]
The potential of digital platforms as distributors and enablers of insurance in Africa
The past decade has seen the emergence of digital platforms. These digital platforms (also known as multi-sided platforms) connect buyers and sellers [...]
African digital platforms and the future of digital financial services
As societies and economies change, so should the financial products that serve them The insight2impact facility in partnership with Research ICT [...]
The rise of African digital platforms
Early findings from our African digital platforms and the future of financial services research An increasingly digital and connected Africa is [...]
African digital platforms and the future of financial products
As societies and economies change, so should the financial products that serve them. Financial products help us manage our lives. They enable us to [...]