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New Report: Small Merchants Offer Big Financial Inclusion Opportunities
Increasing micro and small merchants’ use of cashless payment systems will require broad participation and innovation from the financial sector, regulators, governments and the private sector. But the impact will be transformative for millions of small merchants, their customers and the broader economies in which they operate.
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- Uncategorized
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CGAP, Citi Foundation Launch Digital Financial Inclusion Policy Program in China, Indonesia, Philippines
CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a US-based, nonprofit research center that aims to facilitate the expansion of financial access, and the Citi Foundation, the charitable arm of US-based financial services firm Citigroup, recently launched the “East Asia Digital Financial Inclusion Program”. The program’s goal is to engage policymakers in China, Indonesia and the Philippines to bring best practices relating to digital financial services to and from other parts of the world.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Tags
- digital payments
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Chemonics and BanQu Partner to Test Blockchain’s Potential to Eliminate Poverty and Improve Aid Effectiveness
On October 17, 2016, international development consulting firm Chemonics and technology company BanQu established the Blockchain for Development Solutions Lab. The lab represents the first concerted effort by a development company to build, test, and scale blockchain solutions to reduce poverty and increase aid effectiveness.
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- Technology
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Ecobank Launches Ecobank Mobile App to Transform Banking in Africa
Ecobank (Ecobank.com) has launched the Ecobank Mobile App, an instant and convenient way of banking via the mobile phone. It is the first unified app delivered by any institution for use in 33 countries. Group CEO, Ade Ayeyemi unveiled the new App at a large product launch in Lagos, which brought together a wide range of customers, including students, various professionals, traders and transporters. Ecobank board members, shareholders, staff and media were also present at the event.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Safaricom CEO Warns His “Clumsy” Product Needs to Diversify or Risk Dying
The future of M-Pesa, the world’s leading mobile money-transfer system, lies in transforming the service’s “clumsy” technology into something more efficient, innovative, and collaborative. At least that’s the vision spelled out by the company’s CEO.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Equitel Now Kenya’s Second Biggest Mover of Mobile Money
The battle for mobile phone money transactions business is changing in a manner that may cause various players to stop and take notice.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Financial Innovation Startup and 12 Global Banks Test Blockchain Based Cross-Border Payment System
U.S.-based financial innovation start-up R3, along with 12 global banks, have completed the test of a cross-border payment system powered by blockchain technology and developed by financial technology company Ripple.
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- Technology
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Africa Demands Tailored Mobile Money Services
With technology disruption so evident within financial servicesand an increasing number of mobile money and remittance platforms taking off in Africa, it is not surprising that telcos and network operators are eager to tap into the activity in developing markets. But according to remittance experts securing a foothold in mobile payments is not easy and requires a lot more than simply developing a service and evangelising the offering: it is essential to match up product/ service with the realities of target markets.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech