Building a Cross-border DPI for Financial Inclusion in SADC
Can a shared digital identity layer unlock financial access for millions across SADC? Explore why regional DPI is overdue, and why the building blocks are already in place.
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
Can a shared digital identity layer unlock financial access for millions across SADC? Explore why regional DPI is overdue, and why the building blocks are already in place.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
Formal financial and economic inclusion remains pivotal in addressing the rampant inequality in many African economies today.
Families' access to financial resources is crucial for building thriving communities and fostering economic growth. Remittances, as a vital source of income, provide millions of people with the means to meet their basic needs.
FinScope consumer surveys offer insights into people's financial needs, preferences, and behaviour. It does not attempt to replicate the work of censuses or other annual surveys.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Although women’s achievements, resilience and innovations exhibited during the Covid-19 pandemic are worth acknowledging, women continue to face various barriers.
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 scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Eswatini.
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.
Mobile Money has evolved as a utility to provide financial services largely to the unbanked population.
The MAP country implementation is a key pillar of the SADC FI strategy, implemented with the SADC Secretariat and the SADC Committee for Central Bank Governors.
The Eswatini Making Access Possible (MAP) for Growth: Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development Roadmap.
The Government of Eswatini has made considerable effort towards developing the SME sector since the early 2000s.
This repeat survey provides credible benchmarks on level of financial inclusion, financial capability and the quality of financial inclusion.
The Government of Eswatini has been working towards the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
View the Swaziland Business Development Measure dashboard for 2017.
The Micro Finance Unit, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance, in 2015 commissioned for the first time in Swaziland, the FinScope MSME Survey Swaziland 2017.
It is in this pursuit that the Government of Swaziland initiated the first FinScope MSME Survey Swaziland 2017.
This report provides an update on the available money transfer offerings that facilitate remittance flows from South Africa to other countries in SADC.
The research first required an understanding of the global landscape regarding agricultural subsidies, including some analysis of the changes over time,
Worldwide, countries have been increasing their efforts to expand the financial services sector, particularly to low income consumers.
Presentation on understanding the current state of regional financial integration (RFI) within the SADC region.
The first step in a long journey towards a harmonised legal and regulatory framework for payments in the SADC.
The SADC Secretariat and FinMark Trust identified the need to understand the current state of regional financial integration (RFI) within the SADC region.
Financial Inclusion in SADC through the FinScope Lenses” provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of financial inclusion in the twelve SADC states.
A wide divergence exists in the level of credit information sharing across different SADC
The Swaziland Credit Data Sharing Association (SCDSA) will be officially launched today by the Minister of Finance in Ezulwini, Swaziland.
Focus note 1 - Financial Inclusion and AML/CFT
Focus Note 2: Risk-based approaches to AML/CFT
Focus Note 3: AML / CFT due diligence and related matters
Focus Note 4: Mobile services / technology
Focus Note 5: Harmonisation of regulatory frameworks in the SADC region
Consolidated report Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Certain SADC Countries
Presentation delivered by Peter Gross at the Insurers Assocation Zambia Seminar on 28 May 2013.
The study is the second phase of a three-year programme to increase access to and the uptake of rural and agricultural financial services in southern Africa
Better understand the role and use of co-operative financial institutions (CFIs) as viable alternatives to the commercial banking sector for accessing financial services.
The housing finance in Africa year book is intended to provide readers insight into the practice and developments in housing finance in Africa
The Government of Swaziland recognises the significant role of the financial services sector in contributing to the overall economic growth of the country.
A report reflecting the state of progress of implementation of the Protocol on Finance and Investment in SADC.
This report was commissioned by the Office of The Registrar of Insurance and Retirement Funds (RIRF) in Swaziland.
The Ministry of Finance established the Micro-Finance Unit in September 2010 to facilitate the development and sustainability of the microfinance sector in the country.
This study examined the retirement systems of Swaziland with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision