Jane Del Ser

In Mexico, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) play an important role in the economy, accounting for 97% of all businesses while employing 32% of the workforce. Given their sheer number and geographic spread, MSEs can play a significant role in the nation’s recovery from the pandemic and future economic growth but still face numerous economic challenges bringing the need for resilience to withstand and adapt to external shocks.

In preparation for the launch of Strive Mexico program, the… Mostrar más

In Mexico, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) play an important role in the economy, accounting for 97% of all businesses while employing 32% of the workforce. Given their sheer number and geographic spread, MSEs can play a significant role in the nation’s recovery from the pandemic and future economic growth but still face numerous economic challenges bringing the need for resilience to withstand and adapt to external shocks.

In preparation for the launch of Strive Mexico program, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth commissioned BFA Global to conduct a landscape review of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Mexico and efforts to support them. This white paper examines the findings of BFA Global research, identifies roads to resilience, and uncovers key opportunities to MSEs’ resilience through digitalization, with a focus on MSEs owned by women.

The findings can be summarized in three topline takeaways:

MSEs are especially vulnerable, but digitalization can build their resilience and create broad economic benefits.
The MSE sector is diverse and microenterprise subsegments have distinct needs, digitalization levels, aspirations, and roads to resilience.
More coordination and tailored strategies are needed to support the digitalization of MSEs and promote resilience. Mostrar menos

In Africa almost half a billion people, or 48 percent of the population, depend on nature for their livelihoods. This heavy reliance on natural resources makes individuals and households particularly vulnerable to changes in climate, land cover, and land policy. Current estimates indicate there are more than 50 million smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, most of whom are working and living in high-risk environments.

The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), where individuals… Mostrar más

In Africa almost half a billion people, or 48 percent of the population, depend on nature for their livelihoods. This heavy reliance on natural resources makes individuals and households particularly vulnerable to changes in climate, land cover, and land policy. Current estimates indicate there are more than 50 million smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, most of whom are working and living in high-risk environments.

The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), where individuals, institutions, and corporations buy and sell carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions, is a promising way for vulnerable communities to access critical resources.

This new Opportunity Brief from the CIFAR Alliance explores how the VCM could be harnessed as a way to provide economic incentives for climate mitigation and adaptation in Africa, and to direct a greater share of the benefits to small land stewards, small project developers and, ultimately, smallholder farmers who have been excluded from it until now. Mostrar menos

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 applications that can reduce the cost to serve and acquire customers — creating more viable business models for broader segments of the market. Several financial services providers are already using AI to eliminate business inefficiencies, manage… Mostrar más

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 applications that can reduce the cost to serve and acquire customers — creating more viable business models for broader segments of the market. Several financial services providers are already using AI to eliminate business inefficiencies, manage business and customer risk and create more seamless customer experiences. More and more providers, not just the large players, have the opportunity to do the same.

On May 16th, BFA Global launched the first-ever report on artificial intelligence as it relates to financial services in Africa and the low-income customer. “Artificial Intelligence: Practical Superpowers,” is relevant for fintech companies and FSPs in Africa who are interested in or looking to move into AI. The FIBR paper presents a practical and compelling case for companies to seriously consider AI in their business by:

Identifying the main use cases in financial services through industry players in Africa
Providing real examples of applied machine learning through BFA Global’s portfolio of work with low-income customers and inclusive fintech companies
Covering the challenges and introducing an AI readiness framework for firms take next steps and test-driving AI demos from the MSME and PAYGo sectors Mostrar menos