Insights
The suptech generations
Financial authorities’ use of technology has evolved over the years, leading to different generations of technology that culminate in what the paper considers as suptech. Suptech refers to the application of big data or artificial intelligence (AI) to tools used … Continue reading →
Revisiting superplatforms and their implications – FIBR briefing note
In the second FIBR White Paper, published in 2017, Olga Morawcynzski and David Porteous made the bold claim that “superplatforms” were coming to financial markets in Africa and elsewhere, and that this would change the nature of financial inclusion. In … Continue reading →
FinnSalud Pilot Phase Introductory Video
Traditional financial inclusion measurement focuses on quantifying access and use. By this measure, only 47% of Mexican adults have a formal deposit instrument, while 31% have formal credit ENIF 2018. The new FinnSalud project spoke with members of two financial … Continue reading →
Artificial Intelligence: Practical Superpowers
With knowledge comes power. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful way to harness data into knowledge and into action. For financial services providers in Africa, the real value of AI and its forms, such as machine learning, lies in practical … Continue reading →
Publications
Our publications library offers a variety of insights such as briefs, white papers, and reports. Informed by our suite of services (e.g., Financial Diaries, qualitative research, strategic advisory, et al.), our experts develop these insights with the purpose of advancing a particular area of thinking within the sector.
Blogs
BFA Global blogs provide fresh thoughts on topical themes within our Areas of Work, distill points from our major publications, and provide an opportunity for our experts to dive deeper into key aspects of our portfolio.
Video + Podcasts
We make it a point to reflect on the impact we have made, and capture it via the lens and our voices. We have been able to produce some customer-centric videos and podcasts to capture their stories – see them here.
Infographics
Our library of infographics translate BFA Global’s on-the-ground research into visual representations that can be utilized as resources for a variety of stakeholders. They capture a project or investigation’s background, methodology, and key insights in a concise and visually engaging format.
Webinars + Presentations
We occasionally share our insights and latest thinking during in-person events in strategic locations. Other times, we are able to engage a larger audience by hosting and participating in various webinar series. Both formats are compiled here.
Meet FarMart, the customer service app for India’s agri-input merchants
Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities and small businesses. Continue reading →
Chinese giants rose to the COVID-19 challenge. Will their global peers?
In February, the outlook for restaurants in China was grim. A few weeks into lockdown with many more weeks looming, owners of restaurants – both big and small – were worried. “Every month, I need to pay my 20,000 … Continue reading →
Video: Inclusive Fintech Accelerator Catalyst Fund announces scale-up
Catalyst Fund Project Launch Video “Innovation is increasingly important…some of the solutions that are going to solve worldwide problems are emerging from the Global South” – Amolo Ng’Weno, CEO, BFA Global In January 2020, Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global … Continue reading →
India is missing the tech-opportunity for responding to COVID-19
Co-authored with Veethi Vyas The Indian government has joined many others in adopting extreme preventive measures to protect the citizens and combat the outbreak of COVID-19. As of March 24th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day complete … Continue reading →
Open-sourcing survey instrument for “COVID-19 and Your Finances” in English and Spanish
In order to conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of COVID-19, BFA Global deployed a “dipstick” online survey on Mar 25 and Mar 26 across seven countries. The blog post and dashboard that shared insights from the survey … Continue reading →
Meet Meerkat, the savings and debt management solution designed to improve the financial health of South Africans
Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities and small businesses. Continue reading →
FinnSalud and Covid-19: Shifting to emergency mode
FinnSalud is one of BFA Global’s largest projects, supported by MetLife Foundation and fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The project was launched last November to operationalize the concept of financial health through our Mexican partners, aiming to better … Continue reading →
8 Steps for fintech startups: Planning a strategic response to COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds around us, reported cases across most emerging markets are still relatively low. As of March 30, Nigeria had 111 confirmed cases, Kenya reported 50, India and Mexico reported around 1000, and South Africa around … Continue reading →
Taking the COVID-19 temperature in emerging markets: A dipstick survey to draw early insights about impact on Livelihoods
Co-authored with Ben Mazzotta It has now been 19 days since the WHO declared the COVID-19 crisis a pandemic on March 11. We publish this blog as several of the largest economies in the world are in the acceleration … Continue reading →
¿Cómo está afectando el Covid-19 a la salud financiera de los mexicanos?
Ahora que México cuenta con 993 casos confirmados de coronavirus y ha entrado en una Fase 2 con contagio local, el Gobierno de la nación está tomando medidas más duras de contención. Dado el carácter exponencial de la epidemia … Continue reading →
Your finances and the Coronavirus pandemic: Dipstick surveys
Our social science researchers and data scientists set out to capture real-time snapshots of how Covid-19 is affecting health and wellbeing at the level of households, small businesses, workers, and consumers. On March 25, we surveyed over 1,400 respondents … Continue reading →
Meet Kwara, the digital platform powering Kenya’s cooperative savings and credit sector
Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities and small businesses. Continue reading →
How the PAYGo solar sector can prepare for the coronavirus and keep the lights on
Co-authored with Dan Waldron Many parts of the world are currently locking down in an intense effort to contain COVID-19 before it takes too many lives. These have created dramatic – albeit necessary – economic effects. With these immediate … Continue reading →
Meet Pesakit, the smart app for mobile money agents in Kenya
Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities and small businesses. Continue reading →
First insights from China: The effects of COVID-19 on financial health of MSEs
Webinar: First insights from China: The effects of COVID-19 on financial health of MSEs When: Tuesday, March 31st at 8:30am-9:30am EST/8:30pm-9:30pm Beijing time As members of the global financial inclusion community, all of us, whether we are researchers, implementers, … Continue reading →
What Colombia-based Rappi can learn from Chinese logistics providers in response to COVID-19
As of last weekend, Colombia had 210 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 88 of which were in Bogotá and the remaining spread throughout the country. Bogotá entered a “lockdown simulation” last Friday. Restaurants and bars shut soon after, and a … Continue reading →
Proto partners with BFA Global for financial complaints automation solution at Central Banks
Nairobi, Kenya / March 24, 2020 — Following its success in developing an award-winning, financial complaints management system and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for Tagalog, English, and Taglish for the Central Bank of the Philippines, technology innovator Proto is pleased … Continue reading →
Digital financial transfers can supercharge the response to COVID-19
As soon as the scale of the worldwide pandemic became apparent, the Kenya government swung into action with measures that are increasingly familiar around the world: encouraging social distancing, suspending travel, closing schools, etc. But, the Kenya government had an … Continue reading →
BFA Global’s COVID-19 response
BFA Global’s team of fintech, data, and development experts is spread all over the world, making them uniquely able to compare, contrast, and highlight the diversity of responses to COVID-19 as they take place in real-time. This series of … Continue reading →
Gig workers have powered Wuhan’s response to COVID-19
Looking down at Wuhan from the sky, you might think the city was empty. Instead of a bustling city of 11 million people, Wuhan looks like a ghost town. The center of the COVID-19 outbreak, Wuhan has been under quarantine … Continue reading →