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
The latest research, blog posts, articles, publications, videos and infographics across all our work.
Past and present leaders of FinMark Trust discuss our beginnings, our impact and our plans to continue encouraging financial markets to work for the poor.
This pocket guide highlights key findings from the market assessment of remittance flows into and out of South Africa using SARB data and a mystery shopping exercise looking at the costs of remitting via various channels, from South Africa.
FinMark Trust conducted a market assessment of remittance flows into and out of South Africa using SARB data and a mystery shopping exercise looking at the costs of remitting via various channels, from South Africa to other countries in the SADC.
To celebrate this milestone in our own development – and for the development of the financial inclusion landscape over the past 20 years, we will be hosting a series of webinars.
Sharing what the latest prices across various channels are – and discussing some of the most prominent developments in the market with experts from the field.
FinScope South Africa Consumer 2021 Results - Webinar
Presentation on sharing the most recent prices across various channels – as well as addressing some of the market's most significant changes with experts from the field.
This year saw us implementing what we call Financial Inclusion 2.0 to ensure better real sector outcomes for the poor and women in the region. Read more in our 2021 annual report
Throughout this year, we will be documenting our journey to date – and making this public for others to learn from.
The road to the Olympics for a young woman in the country is fraught with hurdles, though. To unpack why, consider the hurdles a young woman who is an aspiring Olympic athlete must overcome,
How much do South Africans spend on funeral insurance? Our South Africa Programme Specialist, Phumelele Ngcobo, was on Ukhozi FM to discuss funeral insurance in South Africa.
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.
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.
Impact of Covid-19 and Social unrest a double blow for MSMEs - FinScope uses data to understand current challenges facing MSMEs
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.
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.
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.
The study aimed to review the impact of the switch from the KYC approach to the risk-based approach on financial inclusion.
South Africa has implemented a shift from a rules-based approach to anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing (AML/CTF) to a risk-based approach (RBA), a move that came into effect with the amendment to the Financial Intelligence Act.
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
The Great Reset has happened. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the inflection point with systemic effects that affect how people live their lives
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
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.
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.
How to turn local ideas into global business opportunities. Featuring Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founder Future Africa Fund (Co-Founder Andela &Flutterwave)
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
Making impact through innovations in financial inclusion
The FinScope Mozambique 2019 survey is the third FinScope survey implemented in Mozambique, following the baseline of 2009 and repeat of 2014.
FinScope 2019 marca o terceiro ciclo em que este inquérito nacionalmente representativo sobre a inclusão financeira é efectuado em Moçambique
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 dashboard represents some of the key market data on financial inclusion with a focus on females.
Este painel representa alguns dos principais dados de mercado sobre inclusão financeira com foco nas mulheres.
This MAP report reviews the implementation of the 2015 MAP diagnostic, considers market changes, and identifies financial inclusion interventions to grow the economy.
Documenting the findings of the research study on socio-economic factors faced by South African social grant recipients while also assessing similar global initiatives.
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.
In every crisis there is an opportunity that exists where innovative individuals can build solutions to the challenges we will be facing.
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.
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.
Across the continent there has been a very long debate about the payment of interest on mobile money. What has the experience been like in Zimbabwe?
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.
Masterclass with Craig McLeod, Term Sheets, Dev Ops and Revenue Hacks - What 20 years of building products has taught Craig McLeod.
Masterclass with Tomi Davies, Building an investment worthy startup
Our panellists discuss cross border remittances and domestic payments in selected SADC countries and the challenges faced by payments service providers.
View the presentations on the effects of COVID-19 on domestic payments and cross-border remittances in the SADC region below.
What can we do to unlock access to finance for SMEs in South Africa?
The SADC region is not trailing far behind in the use of technological innovation to foster growth, with a small but fast-growing tech-enabled community.
African innovation refers to innovative technologies, start-ups, and programs developed by Africans for African needs and challenges – African Innovation Foundation
View highlights from the Mozambique FinScope Consumer Survey 2019 comparing levels of financial inclusion between 2019 and 2014.
View highlights from the Mozambique FinScope Consumer Survey 2019 comparing levels of financial inclusion between 2019 and 2014.
Mozambique implemented the 3rd Mozambique FinScope Survey to help monitor and evaluate sector interventions driven by the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS).
Read this 2019 full report for more information about the state of financial inclusion in Mozambique.
O Dinheiro Móvel tem evoluído para um bem utilitário que faculta marioritariamente serviços financeiros à população não-bancária.
Le Mobile Money s’est développé en un outil visant à fournir des services financiers en grande partie à la population non bancarisée.
Mobile Money has evolved as a utility to provide financial services largely to the unbanked population.
View winners and there pitches at the SADC Innovation and Investment Challenge Finale
View wave 3 data in a simple infographic with certain indicators and cross country comparisons.
This report is prepared to provide insight into the Malawi MSME sector using the FinScope Malawi MSME 2019 survey.
In South Africa to the rest of SADC, Remittance Pricing report, presented are the findings from a mystery shopping exercise
Read more on the research findings on cross border remittances from South Africa to the rest of SADC 2020.
Development Roadmap lays out a vision and implementation framework for the development of the SME sector in Malawi.
Informal remittance markets in many countries are well established but often expose the remitter to delays and the risk of theft and other losses.
The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Report is based on findings from 6 focus group discussions with over 30 MSME owners.
2020 South Africa Youth Month infographic dashboard using FinScope 2019 data
a significant portion of adult South Africans are exposed to the necessary delivery of cash to get their social grants
South Africa’s informal savings market thrives – R44 billion collectively saved in approximately 820,000 stokvels.
The lack of recent, holistic and reliable information about the MSME sector was identified to be a significant barrier from past consumer surveys and the MAP process.
View the webinar on the research findings - cross border remittances from South Africa to the rest of SADC here
This report focuses on how FinMark Trust support in innovation that drives impact and enables marginalised communities to work towards sustainable livelihoods through financial inclusion.
This report focuses on how FinMark Trust support in innovation that drives impact and enables marginalised communities to work towards sustainable livelihoods through financial inclusion.
There is a lot of attention on the effects and impact of Covid-19 on our daily lives and we are immersed in stories from all sectors in South Africa.
This report captures the findings of the country context, demand-side, supply-side, and policy and regulatory reviews.
Oluwatomi Eromosele, Research Officer at EFInA joins CNBC Africa.
The health implications of COVID-19 go beyond the threat it poses itself as an illness.
The research team consists of an international team of academics across ten different international institutions.
Read more on COVID-19 livelihood impacts, health behaviours and awareness in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
We release wave 1 data for our multi-country Covid-19 Livelihoods Impact Survey.
As industries affected by physical-distancing COVID-19 measures race to reconfigure value chains, could platform business models hold the key to accelerated digitisation?
Trend insights on the nature and prevalence of digital platforms operating across eight African countries
No country or continent is untouched by COVID-19; but developing markets will see more short- and long-term negative social and economic effects than the developed world.
We are currently collecting data for the COVID-19 Tracker. Click on the link to visit the website for more information.