INCOFIN LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH CERISE & M-CRIL TO HELP INVESTEES MEASURE SOCIAL OUTCOMES

10 Feb 2020

Incofin announces the launch of a multi-year partnership with French association CERISE and Asia focused, responsible development research, ratings and analytics firm M-CRIL that will support investees of Incofin’s agRIF Fund to rigorously track their impact among target clientele by collecting key information and using pragmatic “impact dashboards.” A pioneer in social performance management, CERISE brings an impressive depth of experience in developing innovative tools and support to help mission-driven organizations in realizing their […]

SIGNATORY SERIES | FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND DATA PRIVACY

Eric Chu and Laurel Morrison
07 Feb 2020

Global fintech investment reached $37.9 billion in the first half of 2019. In China, the market size of the country’s online financing peaked at more than US$150 billion in transaction volume. In Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile money operators such as M-Pesa and MTN Money continue to drive financial inclusion. Massive amounts of personal and financial data are generated each day, with global data expected this year to grow to 44 zettabytes.  […]

SIGNATORY SERIES | FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL INCLUSION

Shea Flynn, Camille Parker, and Allison Ryder
07 Feb 2020

Financial inclusion has garnered broad support across the public and private sectors, with a range of actors developing innovative technologies and programs to help consumers in emerging markets gain access to financial products and services. However, with insufficient financial education, literacy and capability, vulnerable populations are likely to encounter over-indebtedness, fraud, or simply choose the wrong products for their financial needs.  Financial education has the power to build trust and […]

SIGNATORY SERIES | RESPONSIBLE INVESTING FOR INCLUSIVE ENERGY ACCESS

Sabahat Iqbal, Ellinor Jensrud, Lory Camba Opem
07 Feb 2020

“We will actively support responsible digital financial services providers to innovate and expand the range of financial services available to underserved groups to help them reduce their vulnerability, build assets, and mitigate their risks for an inclusive digital economy.” –Investor Guideline #1 Responsible investing for inclusive energy access As co-founding Signatories of the Investor Guidelines, CDC Group and FMO have been actively supporting the development of the GOGLA Consumer Protection […]

DIGITAL FINANCE APIs COME WITH RISKS, HERE’S ONE WAY TO MANAGE THEM

Mark Boyd
03 Feb 2020

Often an open API initiative starts when a digital financial services (DFS) provider sees the potential for scaling the exposure of services, such as payments, to partners and third parties. However, internal resistance can squelch the initiative, as management grapples with potential security, data privacy and brand reputation risks. While these concerns are valid, if providers believe open APIs make sense from a commercial perspective, they should think about how […]

U.S. FINANCIAL HEALTH PULSE FINDS ONLY 29% OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE U.S. FINANCIALLY HEALTHY

Naomi Adams Bata
23 Jan 2020

Chicago, IL, Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Financial Health Network, the nation’s authority on financial health, in partnership with Flourish, MetLife Foundation, and AARP, today released the U.S. Financial Health Pulse 2019 Trends Report.  Now in its second year, this year-over-year analysis of peoples’ financial health found that despite a strong economy, only 29% of people in the U.S. are financially healthy.  As signs of a looming economic downturn […]

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION COMMITS TO EXPANDING THE USE OF RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL PAYMENTS TO ADVANCE DECENT WORK

22 Jan 2020

New partnership will result in promoting digital payments as an important tool to increase security, financial inclusion and economic opportunities in the workplace. (20 November 2019) By joining the United Nations’ Better Than Cash Alliance, the International Labour Organization(ILO) commits to increasing the use of responsible digital payments to boost financial inclusion, transparency and efficiency. Specifically, the partnership will support the extension of affordable and accessible payments to low-income people, the creation of cost savings, […]

RESPONSABILITY LAUNCHES USD 200 M CLIMATE DEBT FUND

Ulli Janett
15 Jan 2020

Zurich, 14 January 2020 —responsAbility, a leading Swiss impact asset manager, has announced the first close of its new energy access fund. The private debt fund addresses the lack of access to clean power globally with a strong focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia. It is set up as a blended finance structure offering different risk tranches and has received commitments from a number of prominent public […]

OUR FIVE COMMITMENTS FOR BANKING THE FUTURE: THE TYMEBANK PERSPECTIVE

15 Jan 2020

Tyme stands for 80% of adults regularly using their accounts to meet 80% of their financial needs, simply and efficiently, giving our customers the opportunity to unlock their potential. Our vision is simple – provide financial services that help people embrace their human potential. To make this happen, Tyme introduces “The Tyme 5” – our commitment to current and future customers, investors, partners, and regulators to: Build and then re-build […]

BACK TO BOULDER: ENHANCING STRATEGIC RELEVANCE IN MICROFINANCE

15 Jan 2020

Financial institutions are under pressure. Strategic, technological, and competitive shifts are forcing them to devise innovative strategies to adapt to change, attract and keep clients, and remain relevant. Across markets, new technologies are transforming the economics of financial service delivery, as well as customers’ experiences and expectations. The rise of “superplatforms”—internet giants such as Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon—in financial services, partnerships between banks and fintech companies, blockchain, big data, […]