Theme: Microfinance

MSC conducted primary research in Kenya to understand the challenges of female traders in open-air and cross-border markets. The study identified limitations that prevent them from using digital financial services comprehensively. We sought to learn why these owners of micro and small enterprises shy from using credit, savings, insurance, and payments. Faith Njeri is one such woman. Our new blog discusses the financial challenges countless women like her struggle with as they work on their dream of financial independence.

This report provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on low- and moderate-income (LMIs) populations, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and cash-in and cash-out (CICO) agents, in Asia and Africa, their coping strategies, and recommendations for policymakers and financial service providers to support them.

The COVID-19 crisis has proven devastating for MSMEs in Indonesia, which have seen their revenues reduce to almost half. Our report analyzes the economic consequences of the pandemic on MSMEs, highlights their coping strategies, and provides policy recommendations to help them recover.

This report highlights the impact of COVID-19 on business correspondent (BC) agents in India and the issues they faced while delivering financial services in the wake of the pandemic. It also offers policy recommendations to help BCs offer uninterrupted services.

MSC’s comic booklets on COVID-19 are illustrated narratives that build awareness among CICO agents and their customers during the pandemic. These comics feature rich visual stories to generate awareness, influence precautionary behavior, and drive the safety of agents.

MSC has developed a series of conversational comic books for microfinance institutions to create awareness, influence precautionary behavior, and drive safety of the weak and the vulnerable during COVID-19. These comics have been customized for different geographies. You can access the country specific versions below.