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.
In 2025, FinMark Trust advanced financial inclusion beyond access, delivering evidence-based insights, empowering women and youth, strengthening communities and advancing global dialogue to build lasting resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
Explore key findings from Botswana's FinScope Consumer Survey 2024, covering financial inclusion levels, savings, credit, insurance, and mobile money usage, with insights and policy recommendations for 1.54 million adults across the country.
Explore key findings from Botswana’s FinScope MSME Survey, covering the size and scope of the sector, financial inclusion levels, business challenges, and policy recommendations for over 124,800 business owners across the country.
Botswana's MSME sector employs 175,000 people across 138,000+ businesses, but barriers like limited financing, gender inequality, and low business sophistication are holding it back. Read the full report below
Botswana has made significant strides in financial inclusion, with access increasing from 69% in 2009 to 94% in 2024, driven by mobile money, digital banking, and policy interventions that promote economic and social development.
Commemorating 10 Years of Regional Financial Inclusion, The 2026 SADC Forum marks a decade of regional financial inclusion progress, bringing together policymakers, regulators, and financial sector leaders from across Southern Africa.
Day 2 of the 2026 SADC Financial Inclusion Forum continues the conversation on advancing financial inclusion across the SADC region. View the recording below.
Learn how FinMark Trust’s implementation of the GBL programme links participants to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through the BRAC graduation model for sustainable livelihoods.
Discover how FinMark Trust is working with communities in Thembisa and Hammanskraal to expand access to digital payments and strengthen local financial ecosystems
South Africa to the rest of SADC Remittances Market Assessment 2024
This report offers a comprehensive analysis of South Africa–SADC remittance markets, exploring pricing, regulation, technology, and market dynamics to identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and promote financial inclusion.
Policy recommendations for the informal sector in South Africa
This report shares policy recommendations to strengthen South Africa’s informal sector, enhancing competitiveness, resilience and inclusion for informal enterprises.
The FinScope MSME Lesotho 2023 Report provides key insights into financial inclusion trends, the impact of Covid-19, and the effectiveness of financial technologies and products in meeting the needs of MSMEs.
As one of the learning partners of the Responsible Finance Forum 2025 by Center for Financial Inclusion by Accion, FinMark Trust hosted a field visit with stakeholders to the Digitalising Incomes for Informal and Low-Income Workers (TIPS) project.
Gender champions and allies are reshaping finance to empower women. Explore how FinMark Trust drives change and how you can support gender equity in financial systems.
Our 2024 Annual Report highlights our commitment to driving meaningful change beyond traditional financial inclusion. With a focus on real impact, we are working towards building a more inclusive financial system that empowers and uplifts our region.
The 2023 Eswatini MSME Launch Deck explores key findings from the survey, covering topics such as business insights, support and resilience to shocks, access to financial services, and an overview of financial inclusion.
The Government of Eswatini recognises the MSME sector’s role in strengthening the business climate and creating jobs, with the 2023 Blended FinScope MSME survey tracking changes since the 2017 baseline study to identify key growth opportunities.
The MSME sector remains a vital source of income, especially for women and young people, despite changes since 2017 due to global challenges. MSMEs have grown by 18%, many remain informal, and business support services are underused.
The FinScope MSME Lesotho 2023 pocket guide highlights key insights on adoption of financial technologies, financial inclusion effectiveness, and the suitability of financial products and services for MSMEs.
The report assesses gender data gaps in SADC, reviewing supply-side data from FSPs and demand-side surveys, with recommendations to improve GDD for women’s financial inclusion and empowerment.
The report recommends an integrated approach to BDS in SADC, highlighting financial inclusion efforts and summarising global best practices for SME financial access.
The 2024 SADC Financial Inclusion Forum featured discussions on digital payments, regulatory frameworks, and innovation, promoting collaboration to enhance financial inclusion and regional investment opportunities.
UN Women has published an analysis of the current status of financial inclusion in SADC countries, with inputs from the SADC Secretariat and FinMark Trust. Read the factsheet.
UN Women SADC Financial Inclusion Statistical Report
FinMark Trust is proud to have contributed to this comprehensive report. Download the Financial Inclusion and Gender in SADC Sub-region Status Report for the statistical findings.
Status of Financial Inclusion in SADC Member States
The UN Women report titled “Her Finance, Her Future – Building Stronger Economies One Woman at a Time” explores the status of financial inclusion in SADC, focusing on women's access to and use of financial services.
The presentation by Abel Motsomi, Senior Data and Analytics Specialist at FinMark Trust covers the latest findings tracks the progress of sector developments and financial inclusion in South Africa using the FinScope MSME 2020 as a benchmark.
This webinar covers strategies to improve digital payments in Tembisa and Hammanskraal, highlighting the challenges these communities face and detailing the planned interventions to overcome them.
The presentation covers financial inclusion levels, access and usage trends, drivers and barriers, and the impact of COVID-19. FinScope aims to foster evidence-based dialogue for effective interventions to enhance financial inclusion in Malawi.
The 2023 year survey shows financial inclusion has increased, with a significant drop in financial exclusion from 51% in 2014 to 12% in 2023, largely due to the rapid adoption of mobile money services.
The report highlights key survey findings, comparing national-level data to the 2014 survey results to track indicators and trends. It offers a full analysis, disaggregated by gender, age and location.
This roadmap provides a practical framework to improve the availability, quality and use of S-GDD on banking and mobile money across SADC, building on the gap assessment and GDD training workshop.
These guidelines provide a framework for collecting, analysing and reporting S-GDD in banking and mobile money, and for integrating WEE-FI indicators into SADC financial inclusion surveys.
Este guia resume as conclusões do estudo de diagnóstico para apoiar o desenvolvimento de programas específicos de género para a inclusão financeira das mulheres nestes corredores.
Summary guide: Women’s Roles in Cross-Border Remittances
Cross-border remittances fuel livelihoods in the SADC region. This guide summarises key findings from the diagnostic study to support the development of gender-specific programmes for women’s financial inclusion in these corridors.
This year's findings highlight the financial challenges in South Africa, with 40% of adults borrowing money for food and 20 million adults experiencing electricity cuts due to affordability in the past year.
FinScope Consumer South Africa 2023 Survey Launch Presentation
The presentation of results by Jabulani Khumalo - Senior Data and Analytics Specialist, a keynote address by Dr. Pali Lehohla, and a panel discussion with experts Kershia Singh, Dr. Thabang Chiloane, and Pamela Ramagaga.
The report outlines the research methodology (desktop and empirical tools), data collection from Aug 2022–May 2023, and key outcomes identified under specific development themes.
Our Annual Report shares our progress in advancing beyond traditional financial inclusion to bring about lasting change focussed on real impact. We're working to create a more inclusive financial system for our region.
Summary report: Women Cross-border Traders (Lesotho Corridor)
This report delves into the experiences of women in the South Africa to Lesotho corridor. It addresses crucial data gaps, aiding in targeted support for digital payments in Southern Africa.
Summary report: Women Cross-border Traders (Malawi Corridor)
This report delves into the experiences of women in the South Africa to Malawi corridor. It addresses crucial data gaps, aiding in targeted support for digital payments in Southern Africa.
Summary report: Women Cross-border Traders (Mozambique Corridor)
This report delves into the experiences of women in the South Africa to Mozambique corridor. It addresses crucial data gaps, aiding in targeted support for digital payments in Southern Africa.
Este relatório explora as experiências das mulheres no corredor da África do Sul para Moçambique. Ele aborda lacunas críticas de dados, auxiliando no suporte direcionado para pagamentos digitais no Sul da África.
This study aims to refine existing regulatory principles to ensure they effectively cover the activities of microfinance institutions to facilitate their expansion and impact.
Explore Zimbabwe's mobile money evolution, challenges and economic impact with our guide. Drawing on 2018-2021 data, this publication delves into the milestones, regulations and societal effects of mobile money services, and more.
The 2023 review guides SADC states in strengthening mobile money within NPS, harmonising laws to advance financial inclusion, innovation and fintech across the region.
This report assesses ML/TF risks in the SADC to ensure FATF measures against money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing are effective, proportionate and risk based.
Best Policies and Practices for SME Financing in the SADC Region
This handbook shares best practices for SME finance, guiding DFIs, policymakers and stakeholders in the SADC region. It draws on regional challenges and global lessons to improve SME funding.
