The many aspects of Financial Inclusion

In our podcast today, Nicholas Mungai, and Thomas Murayi, financial inclusion experts at MSC, give an in-depth analysis of how digital financial services can bridge the digital divide to make formal financial formal services available to women, particularly those in open-air markets and cross-border trades.

This podcast brings together MSC’s Financial Services Analysts, Nicholas Mungai and Gregory Ilukwe. They share insights on how the significant changes and milestones in Kenya’s financial services sector have shaped the sustainability of its mobile money agents. They also discuss how the future of mobile money agencies should hinge on agents offering various complimentary financial and non-financia...

Our podcast features Dr. Juliet Ongwae, a consultant with MSC, and Ritika Sah, the Training Coordinator at the Helix Institute at MSC. They discuss the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and the value it adds to the economy. The podcast also explores why central banks worldwide want to launch a digital currency and the different risks associated with digital currencies.

Our podcast features Charlotte Ochieng, a manager, and Mandira Sharma, an analyst in MSC’s Banking and Financial Services sector. They discuss how financial institutions in Kenya should change the narrative to provide support to MSMEs. The institutions should improve access to markets, business knowledge, and access to advisory and mentorship for MSMEs.

Embedded finance is the seamless integration of financial services into traditionally non-financial services or products. In the Indian context, embedded finance will play a crucial role in providing access to savings, credit, and other financial services to lower and middle-income segment users. Fundfina primarily intends to provide small merchants with credit. Tune in to our podcast to hear from...

NITI Aayog introduced the Account Aggregator (AA) framework to ensure secure and seamless data portability of consumer data among service providers. It can revolutionize financial services by simplifying data sharing. This unified platform will help all players in the financial ecosystem provide better tailored demand-based products for the consumers. Listen to our podcast with Nikhil Kurhe, Co-fo...

The word “Mool” means “root.” Mool, a neo-banking platform, provides its customers with various financial services designed as per their needs. It also partners with business entities to create products for their employees. Listen to our podcast with Abhinav Nayar, the founder of Mool, to understand neobanking for nonaffluent users and its challenges in the Indian context.

In India, microfinancing started in the 1980s to empower the poor and underserved segments of its population. In addition to credit access primarily, microfinancing also provides insurance, savings, and other financial services. India’s microfinance sector has gradually evolved with the changing times ever since. However, the sector has not yet utilized the potential of digitization thoroughly. In...

In this podcast, “Transforming cash in/cash out - Leveraging the potential of female agents,” we deep-dive into the landscape for female agents and the challenges they face and discuss opportunities for female CICO agents. We chat with Shelley Spencer, Founder and CEO of Strategic Impact Advisors, a global consulting firm committed to spreading the use of digital technology for financial inclusion...

Agent networks across the globe play a critical role in enhancing financial inclusion at the last mile. Evolving country landscapes have led to newer business models of agent network management. In this podcast, listen in to Emilio Hernandez, Senior Financial Sector Specialist at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP). Last in a three-part series by MSC on the multiple facets of agent ne...

Our podcast featured DFS Consultant Wesley Otoso and DFS Specialist Edward Obiko of MSC. They discussed the landmark transition where Kenya’s first digital lender Branch International acquired Century Microfinance Bank in its latest expansion drive. Wesley and Edward delve deeper to unpack the motivation behind this acquisition and what it now means to traditional financial service providers and F...

Our newest podcast sees Elizabeth Berthe, Partner at MSC, and Henry Lagat, Associate Partnerships Officer at Generation Africa, discussing the role of youth agri-entrepreneurship in Africa. They explore how the financial sector, the development community, and multilateral organizations can lay the groundwork for increased entrepreneurship in the agricultural industry.

Since March, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted all businesses in Bangladesh. Small enterprises, including FinTechs and Startups, have been anxious about losses in business and shortened runways due to the fear of lockdowns and extended periods of restrictions on movement. However, on the demand side, the pandemic saw the emergence of a new segment of the poor in Bangladesh. In this...

MSMEs in Vietnam account for more than 98% of all business, 40% of GDP, and 50% of the total employment. Despite their significant contribution to the economy and employment, several factors hinder MSMEs’ access to formal financial services. The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation. It has left many MSMEs struggling with a shortage of working capital. In this second episode, we connect with...

MSMEs in Vietnam account for more than 98% of all business, 40% of GDP, and 50% of the total employment. Despite their significant contribution to the economy and employment, several factors hinder MSMEs’ access to formal financial services. The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation. It has left many MSMEs struggling with a shortage of working capital. In this first episode, we connect with...

India’s financial services ecosystem has been transforming faster than ever. Innovative products and technologies continue to extend banking solutions to the bottom of the pyramid using human-centered designs. FinTechs, especially start-ups, are the backbone of these new disruptive products—they provide the infrastructure necessary for the solutions to materialize. In this episode, we connect with...

India is a hotspot for start-ups. However, the country has only 297 women-led tech start-ups and just two women-led unicorns. Compared to men, women entrepreneurs have to deal with more hurdles as they start and run a business. In this podcast, we connect with Devleena Bhattacharjee , the Founder of Numer8, and Priyanka Chopra , the Chief Operating Officer at CIIE.CO, IIM Ahmedabad. The podcast sh...

India is home to more than 60 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Though MSMEs contribute significantly to the economy and employment, several factors hinder their access to formal financial services. Most MSMEs operate in the unorganized sector and lack a formal or documented financial history. This affects their ability to borrow from formal lending sources or institutions. In...

The future of work has been transforming as digitalization enables the creation of jobs and new employment opportunities. The boom in the gig economy and e-commerce sector drives this growth for the low- and middle-income workforce. In this episode, we connect with Anshul Khurana, the co-founder of Entitled , and Shantanu Singh, the co-founder of Flexisalary , who continue to strive for an inclusi...

AgriTech players have been transforming the way agriculture is practiced across all stages of the value chain. Over the past few years, the sector has enjoyed strong tailwinds that have increased the interest of venture capital (VC) in the space. However, the availability of affordable finance remains a challenge for the sector. In this episode, we connect with Prathmesh Kant, co-founder of Aggois...