MicroSave Consulting (MSC)

MSC, with JPMorganChase’s support, is hosting an event in Gauteng, #SouthAfrica, to present survey findings on #women-owned microenterprises #financialhealth in Gauteng. Panelists will explore gaps & opportunities to serve these #women across manufacturing, trade, & services industries. #InclusiveEconomy #WomenEmpowerment #Microenterprises #FinancialInclusion #Entrepreneurship #SMEs Kim Kariuki Shirleen Regina Olalo Jeanne Ng'ang'a Nicholas Mungai Ravi kumar Elizabeth Gathu Mutungi Collin Edward Obiko Mandira Sharma Mmiiro Francis Mmoloke Egar Mokonyane Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation FinMark Trust Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Absa Bank Kenya Time Bank Nedbank Capitec First National Bank GH Stanbic Bank Kenya

Vulnerable beneficiaries of government programs face increasing fraud cases, as fraudsters exploit low digital literacy and trust. MicroSave Consulting (MSC) research highlights the urgent need for stronger protections. Sharing a blog post written by my colleague Mahima Dixit and me, highlighting strategies to combat the growing fraud targeted against the recipients of government schemes Thanks to FinDev Gateway for publishing this article #consumerprotection #responsiblefinance #governmentprograms

The Impact Investors Council (IIC) newsletter featured an interview with MSC’s Anant Jayant Natu and Aarjan Dixit. In it, they discussed the role MSC plays to catalyze finance for climate adaptation and looked at smallholder farmers and renewable energy solutions. The interview also featured their insights on blended finance models, digital microinsurance, and collaborations to scale climate resilience initiatives. 🔗 Read the full interview published in the India Climate Bulletin by the Impact Investors Council here: https://lnkd.in/dhAA9Z3F #ClimateFinance #Sustainability #LocallyledAdaptation #BlendedFinance #ClimateAction

MicroSave Consulting (MSC) recently completed a five-day training of trainers (ToT) session on “microfinance for resilience” with the prominent microfinance institution (MFI) BURO Bangladesh. MSC trained 15 MFI professionals to empower them with essential skills to assess climate impacts on their agriculture portfolio. MSC’s climate expert, Aarjan Dixit, and Shahrukh Ahmed Latif from MSC Bangladesh led the ToT. Aarjan shared his knowledge of how climate change impacts agriculture and explained how effective financial products can foster resilience among MFI borrowers. Shahrukh led the sessions on qualitative research methods using MSC’s signature #MI4ID (market insights for innovation and design) approach. Session participants learned how to design and conduct qualitative research through specialized tools and data analysis to produce actionable insights. Through engaging group activities and hands-on pilot testing, participants gained a balanced mix of practical and theoretical knowledge, which prepared them to conduct research and apply these skills effectively in the field. In the coming months, with support from MSC researchers, BURO’s team will conduct comprehensive qualitative research in four climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh. This research will provide valuable insights into how climate events shape customers’ financial behaviors and coping mechanisms during post-crisis periods. These findings will help BURO refine its financial products and enable customers to strengthen their financial resilience amid climate-related challenges. #MicrofinanceForResilience #ClimateFinance #FinancialInclusion #ClimateChangeAdaptation #SustainableFinance #AgriculturalFinance #QualitativeResearch

A fireside chat at the NetHope Global Summit saw Akhand Tiwari, Partner at MSC (MicroSave Consulting), engage Andrée Simon, CEO of FINCA Global, in an insightful conversation. They explored important considerations for #FinancialInclusion practitioners when they design and deploy digital tools. The discussion highlighted the importance of approachable, effective, and sustainable solutions. They addressed critical topics, such as why 60% of low- and moderate-income (LMI) users do not seek grievance resolution, and emphasized why seamless system performance is essential. Even minor glitches or delays can cause users to lose trust and disengage from digital solutions. You can watch the complete session recording, which is coming soon. Stay tuned to our social media channels! #DigitalFinance #NetHopeSummit2024 #DigitalInclusion #TechForGood #DigitalLiteracy

Our blog, “From gig work to financial empowerment: Embedded finance for women in the platform economy,” highlights the role digital platforms play to integrate financial services that meet women’s unique needs. It provides insightful recommendations for designing gender-intentional products and advocates for ways to overcome algorithmic biases and foster partnerships. Dive into our analysis and join the conversation on what this means for broader economic empowerment. Read the blog here: tinyurl.com/322mfa4n #EmbeddedFinance #GenderEquity #EconomicEmpowerment

How can we ensure sustained digital engagement for low- and moderate-income consumers? Join MSC’s Akhand Tiwari at the NetHope Summit on 24th October for an interactive workshop that tackles this challenge head-on. From building trust to creating robust learning ecosystems, this session will share best practices and collaborative solutions for digital inclusion. 💻 Register now at https://lnkd.in/gnmT_HQM and let us work together to bridge the digital divide. #NetHopeSummit2024 #DigitalInclusion #TechForGood #TechForAll NetHope Busara Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation GSMA MetLife

Day 1 of #Training of #Trainers MSC’s Data Insights team is thrilled to share progress on the “Digital Divide” study, which receives support from the research agency SRGB Research & Consulting Limited. The study seeks to boost the adoption of digital financial services (DFS) among small businesses in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. Through structured interventions, we empower participants to use mobile financial services (MFS) to their full potential. On the first day, Arif Rahman and Sadia Shahnaz from MSC’s Bangladesh team trained 12 facilitators who would head out into the field to guide participants and raise awareness on MFS. This training is part of a three-stage intervention driven by a rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT) approach to increase MFS adoption and financial literacy. The training ensures our trainers are well-prepared for in-person visits, provides hands-on training, and addresses real-time queries to build confidence in the use of MFS accounts. Through this training, we advance financial inclusion by equipping underserved communities with the knowledge and tools to embrace digital finance. Stay tuned for more updates as this study unfolds to pave the way for a more inclusive digital future. #FinancialInclusion #DigitalTransformation #MFS #Bangladesh #SmallBusinesses Mayank Sharma Akhand Tiwari Shawn Hunter Peter Morgan

While banks’ credit to women-owned MSMEs in Bangladesh has increased, the growth in access still hasn't kept pace with the rising demand from women entrepreneurs. 📊 Key insights from Bangladesh’s Women’s Financial Inclusion Data (WFID) Dashboard: ✅ As of Q4 2023, women own 36.9% of bank accounts and 33.9% of total deposits. ✅ However, they own just 17.9% of total loan accounts and hold 6.5% of total asset value. ✅ Women contribute 20% to Bangladesh’s GDP but their share in the outstanding credit portfolio remains at just 6.45%. For a more detailed analysis, read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gBqMZbHM #FinancialInclusion #WomenEntrepreneurs #Bangladesh #MSME Akhand Tiwari Ayushi Misra Mohak Srivastava Arif Rahman Kunal Sharma Abdullah Al-Rafi Sadia Shahnaz Raiyana Tasneem Aarshee

Beyond research and into action - delivering improved credit products for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh with three leading banks. Look out for the great documentation on what we learned and what the banks are doing ... coming soon!