We have launched a COVID-19 Tracker, The survey themes include health and risk behaviours, food security, income, work and job security, personal safety concerns, and access to government and community support. www.covid19tracker.africa
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The latest research, blog posts, articles, publications, videos and infographics across all our work.
Are we spending too much on funeral insurance? Our head of the South Africa Programme, Lesego Mashigo, reflects on the insights of our latest research on the industry in South Africa.
Brendan Pearce: Last rites - Desmond Tutu’s lesson for us
Archbishop Desmond Tutu performed one last act of leadership in requesting a pine casket, igniting the long-overdue national conversation on what it means to be buried with dignity.
South Africa experienced a series of unexpected social unrest that saw many township and informal businesses destroyed or looted and malls burnt. It was like a scene from a violent movie, which graduated to loss of lives in some instances.
Botswana is moving towards the 2021 goal of reducing financial exclusion to 12% or increasing usage of more than one type of formal financial service to 57%.
Early in 2021 FinMark Trust, with support from the FCDO, set out to understand the effects of the pandemic on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Botswana with a telephonic Business Pulse survey and qualitative interviews.
Migrants have been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 economic fallout. In addition to lockdowns and job losses, they struggle to access adequate support, especially for their families back home that depend on them.
Digitisation of Financial Products for Cross-Border Traders
Informal cross border trade is important to the food security, supply of basic medical goods, as well as the livelihoods of millions. Find out more about the key corridors between SA and 5 key countries.
Credit is key to any business – including farming. For FSPs to effectively grant credit to MSMEs, an entire ecosystem is needed. Discover what the state of the discussion is in the SADC member states.
Agriculture supports millions of people across SADC and is key in the development of the region. Discover the barriers and opportunities for FSPs participating in this space in SADC.
This agriculture scoping study focuses on eSwatini as part of the FMT initiative to design market-based interventions that result in more inclusive growth for MSMEs.
This agriculture scoping study focuses on Botswana as part of the FMT initiative to design market-based interventions that result in more inclusive growth for MSMEs.
This agriculture scoping study focuses on Malawi as part of the FMT initiative to design market-based interventions that result in more inclusive growth for MSMEs.
This agriculture scoping study focuses on Lesotho as part of the FMT initiative to design market-based interventions that result in more inclusive growth for MSMEs.
The Role of Remittances in Deepening Financial Inclusion
South Africa and Eswatini Remittances Corridor Diagnostic, this report is a compilation of research findings to inform the implementation of the IFAD’s Financial Inclusion and Cluster Development (FINCLUDE) programme in Eswatini.
The objectives of FinScope Botswana 2020 were to understand the adult population in terms of, Livelihoods and how they generate their income, financial needs and demands, financial perceptions, demographic and geographic distribution.
SMME Finance Scoping: Services and Light Manufacturing
The objectives of this study are to understand the SMME landscape in Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, and provide recommendations for a financial inclusion and growth strategy.
Although women’s achievements, resilience and innovations exhibited during the Covid-19 pandemic are worth acknowledging, women continue to face various barriers.
This blog shares updates on the launched Income Relief Fund for Migrants to provide short term relief to SADC migrants and their families with support from FCDO
This report reviews the implementation of the 2014 MAP Eswatini diagnostic, considers market changes, and identifies financial inclusion interventions to grow the economy
This report reviews the implementation of the 2016 MAP Zimbabwe diagnostic, considers market changes, and identifies financial inclusion interventions to grow the economy
Three ventures from Botswana and Tanzania present solutions that address financial inclusion across the SADC region. Watch their investor pitches and product demonstrations
Sustainable data collection for development Report
With sustainability of data collection in mind, the i2i has set out to test whether or not mobile tech could be used to offer faster and more cost-effective collection.
Access to basic services Botswana
This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Botswana.
This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Malawi.
This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Eswatini.
This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Madagascar.
This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Lesotho.
While we continue to focus on inclusive development of financial markets, we expanded our strategies to include a more direct focus on real economy impacts with FI 2.0
SADC Innovation and Investment Challenge Dealbook
Making impact through innovations in financial inclusion
The UK has announced a new package to reach 750 000 people in 8 countries across Southern Africa helping communities worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This MAP report reviews the implementation of the 2015 MAP diagnostic, considers market changes, and identifies financial inclusion interventions to grow the economy.
SASSA Grant Recipients - Generating Better Livelihoods
Documenting the findings of the research study on socio-economic factors faced by South African social grant recipients while also assessing similar global initiatives.
SASSA Grant Recipients - Improving the Financial Capability
Given the importance of social grants in the livelihoods of the poor, it is appropriate to leverage this mechanism to promote income generation and security of livelihoods.
As viewed, moving grant distribution towards greater impact requires the establishment, promotion and support of inclusive digital payment ecosystems at community level.
Limited support has been provided for economic migrants who send money home to support family members. See what support has been created for migrants in South Africa.
Measuring Progress: Financial Inclusion in selected SADC countries
This 2019 report is the third in an annual series that assess the level of financial inclusion in selected SADC countries where the MAP programme has been implemented.
SADC Innovation Challenge objectives, competition timelines, the thematic challenges, the participant overview, and the in-country and regional winners.
Highlighting the usage of access to financial services in South Africa in 2019, to better understand market needs and attitudes of both informal and formal offerings.
Our panellists discuss cross border remittances and domestic payments in selected SADC countries and the challenges faced by payments service providers.
