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.

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,

MAP Botswana Financial Inclusion Refresh 2021

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%.

SMME Finance Scoping: Services and Light Manufacturing

The objectives of this study are to understand the SMME landscape in Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, and provide recommendations for a financial inclusion and growth strategy.

Presentation on the impact of the RBA shift to AML/CTF

The study aimed to review the impact of the switch from the KYC approach to the risk-based approach on financial inclusion.

Report on the impact of the shift to a risk-based approach to AML/CTF

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.

The Great Reset has happened. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the inflection point with systemic effects that affect how people live their lives

MAP Eswatini Financial Inclusion Refresh 2020

This report reviews the implementation of the 2014 MAP Eswatini diagnostic, considers market changes, and identifies financial inclusion interventions to grow the economy

MAP Zimbabwe Financial Inclusion Refresh 2020

This report reviews the implementation of the 2016 MAP Zimbabwe diagnostic, considers market changes, and identifies financial inclusion interventions to grow the economy

Access to basic services Botswana

This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Botswana.

Access to basic services Malawi

This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Malawi.

Access to basic services Eswatini

This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Eswatini.

Access to basic services Madagascar

This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Madagascar.

Access to basic services Lesotho

This scoping study has been conducted to identify the barriers and opportunities to enable affordable digital delivery and access to basic services in Lesotho.

2020 Annual Report

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

FinScope Mozambique District Report 2019 (English)

The FinScope Mozambique 2019 survey is the third FinScope survey implemented in Mozambique, following the baseline of 2009 and repeat of 2014.

FinScope Mozambique District Report 2019 (Portuguese)

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.

FinScope Mozambique Gender Dashboard 2020 (Portuguese)

Este painel representa alguns dos principais dados de mercado sobre inclusão financeira com foco nas mulheres.

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.

FinScope by Numbers Mozambique 2019 brochure (Portuguese)

View highlights from the Mozambique FinScope Consumer Survey 2019 comparing levels of financial inclusion between 2019 and 2014.

FinScope by Numbers Mozambique 2019 brochure (English)

View highlights from the Mozambique FinScope Consumer Survey 2019 comparing levels of financial inclusion between 2019 and 2014.

FinScope Consumer Survey Mozambique 2019 Pocket Guide (English)

Mozambique implemented the 3rd Mozambique FinScope Survey to help monitor and evaluate sector interventions driven by the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS).

FinScope Consumer Survey Mozambique 2019 Report (English)

Read this 2019 full report for more information about the state of financial inclusion in Mozambique.

Four findings from the DataHack4FI Innovation Competition.

Exploring the relationship between platforms, participants and financial services.

Measuring Progress: Financial inclusion in SADC - 2019 Report

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.

Zimbabwe Financial Inclusion Forum 2019 Report

The forum was held under the theme “Strengthening Financial Inclusion in Zimbabwe, from Policy to Practice: Lessons and Way Forward”

The Fourth SADC Financial Inclusion Forum Report

The fourth SADC Financial Inclusion Forum was held this year to further advance the aspirations of the SADC Strategy on Financial Inclusion and SME access to finance.

Exploring behavioural interventions to increase formal remittances.

An update on behavioural interventions which have proven to influence financial decisions.

Exploring behavioural interventions to improve insurance.

FinScope Benin Regional Financial Access 2019

MAP is a diagnostic and programmatic framework to support expanding access to financial services for individuals and micro and small- businesses.

While financial inclusion has risen to 68% globally, Sub Saharan Africa continues to lag with only 32% of its citizens having an account at a financial institution.

Behavioural interventions to better meet the financial needs of consumers

Digital platforms connecting buyers and sellers of goods and services across Africa are on the rise. Learn more about our research and week of learning in Lagos.

We recently rolled out a pilot study in Nigeria, to explore the digital financial services landscape and how it serves the people. Learn more about our findings here.

We take a closer look at financial inclusion research and the shift towards using transactional data to develop more meaningful indicators.

Read more about our work with the Nigerian Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and the key findings from our transactional data analysis.

We investigate the prospect of new financial inclusion indicators for policymakers, through transactional data analysis.

What opportunities does the digitisation of value chains create for the delivery of financial services?

FinScope Consumer Survey Benin 2018 Pocket Guide

This pocket guide represents some of the key market data on financial inclusion.

Read our interview with an entrepreneur building a digital identity business in Africa.

In mid-July, FinMark Trust and Bankable Frontiers Associate (BFA) set off to Malawi to conduct a feasibility study of the potential of a digital financial identity

Myanmar MAP Diagnostic 2018 Report

This MAP Refresh Myanmar document follows on from the original MAP (Making Access Possible) exercise in Myanmar in 2013/2014.

Myanmar MAP Synthesis 2018 Report

This MAP Study Synthesis Note serves to summarize a series of documents produced as part of the Making Access Possible (MAP) Myanmar initiative.

Using the example of three specific financial inclusion initiatives, we examine what drives usage.

FinScope Consumer Survey Haiti 2018: Topline Results presentation

Objectives of FinScope Haiti 2018

The Financial Access Points (FAP) mapping project in Lesotho was conducted between December 2017 and March 2018.

The current economic situation in South Africa presents a large number of people relying on the informal economy,

Namibians who do not have access to financial services stood at 22% in 2017, down from 31% in 2011 and 51% in 2007.

Financial Inclusion in SADC

The financial inclusion indicators are constructed from 14 SADC countries using findings of the FinScope Consumer surveys.

DataHack4FI in-country winners from Ghana offer a multiple-database-verification API solution to identity verification.

FinScope Consumer Survey Eswatini 2018 Pocket Guide

This repeat survey provides credible benchmarks on level of financial inclusion, financial capability and the quality of financial inclusion.

See what the i2i needs measurement framework reveals about consumer behaviour in Zimbabwe.

Proud new partnership between insight2impact (i2i) and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences – Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI)

Many people don’t actively use formal financial services. Understanding why can render important policy insights. This note unpacks the various drivers of usage.

Using transactional and CRM data to identify an underserved consumer segment

Look at what the winning teams from Season 1 DataHack4FI have achieved in the last year.

The Face of Social Exclusion Infographic

Despite progress around the world, many people continue to face social exclusion (i.e., limited access to social and economic opportunities).

A recent study identified 18 unique behavioural interventions that FSPs can implement to influence the savings, credit, payment and insurance decisions of individuals.

DataHack4FI Season 1 in-country winner for Ghana

Guidelines, standards and best practices for spatial data

How a spatial understanding of financial inclusion can contribute to meaningful measurement and impact

Mobiticket is a start-up based in Nairobi. It focuses on digitising the informal public transport sector across developing countries.

A report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) explores the rise of technology-enabled innovation and ways to measure FI, with an input from i2i.

The DataHack4FI Season 2 launch in Accra kick-started the competition that uses data to solve problems.

Financial service providers can use behavioural interventions to help their clients overcome the intention-behaviour gap.

If trust is critical for driving usage of financial products and services, how is trust built?

We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like

A glimpse of the future of financial inclusion measurement where needs and usage are considered

A tool to assist practitioners more accurately interpret and report financial inclusion estimates

The first in-country launch of DataHack 4 Financial Inclusion Season 2 takes place in Ghana, November 2017

Lito Villanueva of FINTQ explains why banks and fintechs don't need to compete.

The importance of data for closing the financial inclusion gender gap

Psychologist Hal Hershfield talks to us about how trade-offs between the present and the future affect financial decision-making.

Exploring the factors that drive usage to better understand how the gap can be bridged.

Developing valid and reliable survey scales

A process that can be used to design financial inclusion measuring instruments.

The second in two-part series of curated links to articles offering tips on developing a data strategy.

If you are not already following a data-oriented business strategy, it can be difficult to know where to start. Two handbooks offer practical advice for FSPs.

Barney de Jongh, of Digital Frontiers Institute, talks to us about leveraging agents and data and driving meaningful usage of mobile money products.

A training course in Kuala Lumpur provided the ideal opportunity to present our approach to measuring financial inclusion.

Ekow Duker of Ixio Analytics talks about the way financial service providers approach and use data. 

The third blog in our Measurement Frameworks series incorporates learnings from the retail sector on how consumers use products and engage with services.

The Second SADC Financial Inclusion Indaba

FinMark Trust, in partnership with SADC Secretariat and the SADC Banking Association is proud to have co-hosted the second Financial Inclusion Indaba

The second blog in our Measurement Frameworks series, building tools to measure how, and how much, consumers benefit from Financial Inclusion.

i2i is talking to financial service providers about the way data can be used to unlock new markets.

i2i interviews Marc van der Zon from Hollard on the challenges and opportunities that data presents.

Morné van der Westhuizen and Alex Shabala talk to us about Zoona's creative approach to data collection.

When it comes to data, banks have assets that fintechs lack, says Pieter Vorster.

The first of three blogs in our Introduction to Measurement Frameworks series, discussing how we focus on improving Financial Incusion.

Increasing prominence of FI spawns data-gathering initiatives to measure, understand and improve it

Introduction to measurement frameworks

Determining our focus: A scan of the financial inclusion measurement field

Financial service usage: A conceptual model

Catering to every need: A measurement framework for functional financial service needs

Digging deeper: A measurement framework for depth of financial inclusion

Making good use: A measurement framework for financial service usage

Digitisation of social grant payments and financial inclusion

A quarter of South Africans rely on social grants and the grant allows millions to access formal financial services.

‘Financial inclusion’ is one of the buzzwords in the development circle that always finds mention.

Nkosi introduces the i2i Applications Lab

The meetings highlight the tremendous wealth of data

BR Research recently sat down in Islamabad with a team of researchers from the insight2impact

Getting ready for the i2i and FSD Tanzania workshop on spatial data for business intelligence

Why what you measure in financial inclusion is so important to the outcomes you achieve

4th MasterCard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion

FICA Act: Pre-implementation Study in South Africa

See the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment (FICA) Act: Pre-implementation Study in South Africa report.

We asked members’ advice on two areas: i2i’s overarching strategy and the specific work of the Measurement team.

Patience, a restaurant owner in Goma in the eastern DRC, has a dream of owning her own land.

Building sustainable geospatial data resources

Where we are with the collection and use of GIS data

Herman Smit (Founder and Advisor) Interviews the new i2i lead, Celina Lee.

Alternative data sources and analytical methodologies

Botswana MAP Synthesis 2015 report

This Diagnostic report presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial inclusion environment in Botswana

Challenges & Opportunities for Health Finance in South Africa

Findings show that affordability of schemes is a key challenge for the low income market, largely due to regulatory constraints prescribed within the Medical Schemes Act.

New insights from measuring financial needs

7 Applications for GIS Data

GIS is increasingly informing decision-making in financial inclusion.

Financial inclusion in Rwanda 2016

FinMark Trust launched the results of the Financial inclusion survey of Rwanda on 3 March 2016.

They say that “if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

More and more financial service providers (FSPs) are looking to data to inform investment decisions

You manage what you measure and thus it is important to have a measurement framework that drives the right behaviour.

An Excluded Society? Financial Inclusion in SADC

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.

i2i Brochure

Download the 2017 i2i Brochure

Status of Agricultural and Rural Financial Services in Mozambique

The last phase of the project was to discuss the findings of the country reports and the innovations/best practices report with country stakeholders

The First SADC Financial Inclusion Indaba Report

The overall aim of the Indaba was to promote financial inclusion in the SADC region for the purpose of inclusive economic growth and poverty alleviation.

GIS4FI Process Note: Mozambique

This process note serves to share key details

Financial education strategy Zambia

The National Strategy on Financial Education for Zambia, which is set out in this document, has the primary objective of empowering Zambians with the knowledge

Understanding Financial Cooperatives Report

This report is to better understand the role and use of co-operative financial institutions in South Africa, Malawi and Swaziland.

Turning corner stores into banks in Mexico

See the presentation of turning corner stores into banks in Mexico.

Financial inclusion in Rwanda 2012

The 2012 FinScope survey was commissioned by Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) and not FinMark Trust.

Status of agricultural and rural financial services in Southern Africa

This report summarises the findings of the first phase of the work, namely, an assessment of the current state of rural and agricultural financial services in the region

Conservative compliance behaviour

Drivers of conservative compliance responses in the South African financial services industry.

FinScope Lesotho 2011

View the FinScope Lesotho 2011 Brochure

FinScope Swaziland 2011 Brochure

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.

Swaziland focus group report

Swaziland focus group report.

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC - Namibia

This study examined the retirement systems of Namibia with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Seychelles

This study examined the retirement systems of Seychelles with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Madagascar

This study examined the retirement systems of Madagascar with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Angola

This study examined the retirement systems of Angola with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Botswana

This study examined the retirement systems of Botswana with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- DRC

This study examined the retirement systems of DRC with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Malawi

This study examined the retirement systems of Malawi with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Zambia

This study examined the retirement systems of Zambia with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

Evaluation of retirement systems of countries within SADC- Zimbabwe

This study examined the retirement systems of Zimbabwe with a view to drawing lessons from their experiences in addressing old age provision

FinScope Ghana launch presentation 2010

See the FinScope Ghana 2010 launch presentation.

A review of South African microfinance

See the report on the review of South African microfinance - successes, challenges and policy issues.

FinScope Mozambique 2009 Report

FinScope Mozambique 2009 is the first national survey of its kind, in which a representational cross-section of all adult Mozambicans have been interviewed comprehensively

FinScope Uganda 2009 Final Report

The studies cover the demand, usage and access to all types of financial institutions from commercial banks

The Mzansi Bank Account Initiative

The Mzansi account is an entry-level bank account, based on a magnetic stripe debit card platform, developed by the South African banking industry

The Access to Finance Presentation

See the Access to Finance study presentation in Pakistan.

Developing a Broad-Based Employee Pension Scheme for Botswana

This research study identifies four main factors that support the need and viability of a broad-based pension scheme

Implementing Financial Action Task Force standards

The report will be of benefit to countries striving towards the dual goals of protecting their institutions against money laundering and the financing of terrorism

FinScope Rwanda 2008 Technical Report

FinScope Rwanda 2008 makes a number of recommendations on the basis of the survey results.

FinScope Malawi 2008 Report

FinScope Malawi 2008 was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance and the FinMark Trust, with funding from the UKAID

Landscape for Consumer Recourse in South Africa's Financial Services

The objective of this study is to investigate the landscape for recourse in South Africa's financial services sector

Access to Finance Study (A2FS)

See the Access to Finance Study brochure.

FinScope Rwanda 2008

Rwanda has adopted a Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP) in order 'to develop a stable and sound financial sector

Research presentation prepared for Banque Nationale Du Rwanda

See the research presentation prepared for Banque Nationale Du Rwanda 2008.

Facilitating Southern African remittance networks

The intra-SADC remittance market is estimated to comprise at least R6.2bn in annual cross-border flows (or approximately US$1bn).

Financial Service Access and Usage in Southern and East Africa

FinScope surveys have been developed to track patterns of usage of, access to and attitudes towards financial services in a country.

Mobile Banking Technology Options

Much has been said about the potential for cell phone banking as it rides on the back of the explosion of cell phone usage in Africa

Enhancing access to financial services in Botswana

This booklet examines access to financial services, particularly banking services, in Botswana.