Financial services and data

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.

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

Biometrics as an alternative data source

Watch how biometrics data can help your business by reducing fraud, lowering service costs and improving efficiency.

Social media as an alternative data source

Watch how social media can benefit your business and improve customer awareness.

Insights from an expert workshop on the potential of African digital platforms to influence development

As societies and economies change, so should the financial products that serve them.

Can digital platforms offer innovative solutions to overcome barriers to low insurance penetration in African markets?

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

Early findings from our African digital platforms and the future of financial services research

AgriGO: A farmer’s tool to grow greater financial harvest

DataHack4FI Rwanda winners, AgriGO, aims to tackle financial vulnerability of smallholder farmers.

ZedCredit: Sentiment analysis in the design of womens savings solution

ZedCredit from Zambia provides access to savings, loans and a credit score via their mobile app.

Geographic Information System (GIS) Data

Watch how GIS data can resolve challenges related to agent placement and credit risk assessment.

Alternative data for financial services: An introduction

See how alternative sources of data can provide useful insights to those looking to design financial products for African consumer.

Network analysis to identify and segment farmers

Using transactional and CRM data to identify an underserved consumer segment

Applying relatively simple analytical methods to traditional data can yield positive returns for organisations.

TransUnion Kenya CEO Billy Owino suggests collecting richer data on consumers can contribute to 'information for good'.

Survey findings from six African countries

Behavioural interventions that advance financial inclusion

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

Exploring the spatial data landscape

Options for sustainable data collection

Find out why Olubayo Adekanmbi believes data innovation + local knowledge = transformation.

Curated resources for those exploring open banking and APIs

Legal experts answer questions about the implications of data regulations for FSPs in Africa.

Smart Business Intelligence

Introducing a Uganda-based fintech company that supports MSMEs in automating and optimising their operations.

Entrepreneur-turned-VC-partner talks about the exciting world of fintech in Africa.

Data sharing can promote financial sector innovation but concerns about data privacy have increased.

Data-driven solution for rural agent network management

A case study exploring how data can be used to overcome financial services delivery challenges.

The importance of data for closing the financial inclusion gender gap

Behavioural science is being used to address challenges in suboptimal decision-making.

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

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.

Case study: Branch

Exploring the potential of alternative data for creating new markets

i2i is offering technical assistance to the Vanguard Group in Ghana, a financial services group that has insurance and banking divisions.

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

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

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.

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

The use of Big Data in financial services

i2i Client Insights focus note

We discuss the major trends contributing to this revolution

Mobile-based banking system that enables farmers to access credit

One of i2i's objectives is to increase the use of client data and analytics

What does big data mean for microinsurance?

ILO 1st community of practice meeting

KCB’s Experience with Data

4th MasterCard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion

FSD Uganda invites FSPs to explore new data, new opportunities

Participants were interested in what other applications of big data there were outside of credit.

Deploying Data to understand clients better

MasterCard Foundation Symposium

Client Insights Focus Note

Alternative data sources and analytical methodologies

Worried about how to improve your credit score? At least you have one.