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.
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.
The Community Digitalisation project welcomed a World Bank delegation to Thembisa to learn more about the impact of digital tools on the community.
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
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.
This report shares policy recommendations to strengthen South Africa’s informal sector, enhancing competitiveness, resilience and inclusion for informal enterprises.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The South African informal sector is a vibrant thread, pulsating with entrepreneurial energy. Valued at almost $10 billion annually and representing 17% of the country’s total employment.
Formal financial and economic inclusion remains pivotal in addressing the rampant inequality in many African economies today.
Do we need to do more in terms of educating people about the risks of cash and the benefits of electronic payments?
In 2022, FinMark Trust continued to make progress in our efforts to improve the lives of the poor by prioritising inclusive growth and the development of sustainable livelihoods. Read more in our 2022 annual report.
Twenty years ago, when FinMark Trust was established, we took the dream of making financial markets work for the poor and turned it into reality. Join us as we reflect on this journey, with key milestones highlighted in our digital journal.
This summary guide of the report on the state of the digital payments ecosystem in South African townships (Hammanskraal and Tembisa) shares key insights and recommendations from research conducted in 2022.
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.
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
Impact of Covid-19 and Social unrest a double blow for MSMEs - FinScope uses data to understand current challenges facing MSMEs
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
SADC Innovation Challenge objectives, competition timelines, the thematic challenges, the participant overview, and the in-country and regional winners.
Mobile Money has evolved as a utility to provide financial services largely to the unbanked population.
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.
2020 South Africa Youth Month infographic dashboard using FinScope 2019 data
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.
Read more on COVID-19 livelihood impacts, health behaviours and awareness in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
We are currently collecting data for the COVID-19 Tracker. Click on the link to visit the website for more information.