Household Risk Management and The Demand for Microinsurance in Ethiopia
A publication by the World Bank reveals that households in Ethiopia struggle to cope with financial shocks, which leaves an unmet need for various insurance services. Insurers are encouraged to find a cost-efficient approach to address the unfulfilled insurable risks. Furthermore, it is advantageous to categorize the market by gender and residence.
Improving the Rural Reach of DFS Through CICO Networks
Cash-In/Cash-Out (CICO) service points allow customers to convert their e-money into cash or vice versa and facilitate digital financial services (DFS) uptake and use in developing markets. They also serve as a gateway to understanding customers’ needs, motivating investments to build more and better financial products that digitize a wider array of transactions and reduce […]
African Transport System Digitalization: Opportunities and Challenges
A report by GSMA has highlighted the challenges facing urban transport systems in African cities and the role of digital innovation in addressing these issues.
Addressing MSME Digitalization Challenges in the AfCFTA Era
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has published a comprehensive report exploring digitalization strategies to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in intra-African trade, allowing them to strategically position themselves within regional and global value chains under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation.
Harnessing Digital Technology to Create “Good Jobs”
Africa’s working-age population is projected to triple by 2100, reaching over 2.5 billion. Addressing the need for “sustainable employment” – stable income and growth opportunities without the constant risk of poverty – is crucial. The World Bank’s report, “Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs,” provides an in-depth analysis of the policies and strategies needed for African policymakers to tackle the challenges of developing inclusive employment through digital growth
Trends in African Tech Venture Capital Market: A Look Back At 2022
A 2022 report on fundraising for African tech and digital start-ups by Partech illustrates how African tech continues to be one of the fastest-growing venture capital ecosystems in the world.
Smart City Development: Trends and The Future
A smart city is an innovative city that leverages technology and data to enhance public services. This can involve utilizing data analytics, sensor technology, and other advanced technologies to optimize resources, improve efficiency, and reduce waste. Smart cities often apply technology in the areas of transportation, energy, healthcare, security, and communication.
Digital Financial Services for a Sustainable Future
The United Nations General Assembly laid out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a set of 17 interconnected metrics to “ensure universal peace and prosperity by 2030”. However, according to the United Nations Independent Group of Scientists’ midterm assessment, the world has not made sufficient progress toward them.
Adoption, Access To Agricultural Financial Services In Rural Ethiopia
The Ethiopian government, for the past decades, has committed at least 10% of the federal budget to the agricultural sector development for the past decade. Although improvements in productivity is observed, there is still a long way to go. One of the reasons for this is the slow adoption of new technology. It is believed slow adoption can be caused by low access to financial services prohibiting farmers from investing in yield-improving technologies.
Overview of Ethiopia’s Remittance Market
Ethiopia’s [formal] remittance inflow was estimated at 2.5 billion dollars by the NBE in 2020 and US$504 million by World Bank’s 2020 in the same year. Despite their discrepancies, both data sources show that the United States and Saudi Arabia are among Ethiopia’s top five send markets.