Publications

Regulation is now considered as essential to bring microfinance institutions to formalization and to protect clients. Yet, most studies investigating regulatory issues focus on formal regulation, namely laws, or on the way other forces, just like competition, influence the market. This note presents the key findings of a research exploring a third regulatory mode: industry self-regulation and the role played by professional associations. Through a case study based on the Tanzanian microfinance association, this research draws conclusions on factors that may favor or restrain the potential of such organizations to contribute to the general regulatory framework.

Many regulators have been tempted to cap the lending rates of microfinance institutions, that is, to limit the rates charged to poor and financially excluded clients through microcredit.

Interest rate restrictions have often been set in financial inclusion schemes. Yet, such regulations may present drawbacks affecting both microfinance institutions and their clients.

Financial support from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation enabled the European Microfinance Network (EMN) and Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA) to lead a joint research project to help improve the financial health of micro-entrepreneurs. The purpose of the research was to: (1) understand the financial health issues faced by micro-entrepreneurs, particularly those supported by organisations providing either technical assistance/business development services, referred to as non-financial service providers-NFSP) or (micro)finance services, called financial service providers (FSP), and (2) develop an operational guide for the staff of FSPs and NFSPs in assessing the financial health of micro-entrepreneurs and supporting micro-entrepreneurs in dealing with financial issues that affect both the financial performance of their enterprises and personal well-being.

Blockchain Big Data AI

Digital Financial Services and Financial Inclusion

In 2018, ADA and Cerise joined forces to carry out a global study of this database in order to establish a general review of the social performance management of financial service providers throughout the world since the launch of the SPI4 tool.

Libra – a cryptocurrency project driven by Facebook

FinTech for Financial Inclusion: A Framework for Digital Financial Transformation

The Universal Standards for Social Performance Management - Implementation Guide

In more than 30 countries worldwide, microfinance-related rules and regulations imposed hard interest rate cap, i.e. caps prohibiting interests over a certain, precisely determined level.

In Sub-Saharan Africa as elsewhere, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in economic development and job creation. However, because of a general lack of knowledge about this particular segment, the sector hardly achieves its full potential.

Finance has been transformed by digitalization and datafication over the past five decades. The latest wave of technology in finance (Fintech) is re-shaping the sector at an unprecedented pace. This digital financial transformation brings about structural changes, with positive and negative effects, likely even more in the high-potential markets of the Middle East and North Africa.

We argue that sustainable balanced development is preconditioned on financial inclusion, and that FinTech is the key driver for financial inclusion. In turn, the full potential of FinTech to support the Sustainable Development Goals will only be realized with a progressive approach to developing infrastructure to support digital financial transformation.

ADA, Inpulse and the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation have joined forces to hear from their MFI partners and to better understand the impact of the covid-19 crisis from the perspective of financial service providers.

PREPARING STRESS-TESTING AND SCENARIOS WITH MICROVISION final EN

Financial support from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation enabled the European Microfinance Network (EMN) and Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA) to lead a joint research project to help improve the financial health of micro-entrepreneurs. The purpose of the research was to: (1) understand the financial health issues faced by micro-entrepreneurs, particularly those supported by organisations providing either technical assistance/business development services, referred to as non-financial service providers-NFSP) or (micro)finance services, called financial service providers (FSP), and (2) develop an operational guide for the staff of FSPs and NFSPs in assessing the financial health of micro-entrepreneurs and supporting micro-entrepreneurs in dealing with financial issues that affect both the financial performance of their enterprises and personal well-being.

The Dark Side of Digital Financial Transformation: The New Risks of FinTech and the Rise of TechRisk

Press review of SAM 2019 Compilation of articles and publications on the 2019 African Microfinance Week

Press review of SAM 2019 Compilation of articles and publications on the 2019 African Microfinance Week