Recent Blogs
3 Lessons From Côte D’Ivoire on Responsible Digital Finance Ecosystems
CGAP’s WAEMU Lab has been working to improve consumer protection for DFS users in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. A 2022 survey in Côte d’Ivoire revealed significant risks, but a 2024 follow-up showed progress, with 3 key lessons emerging.
The Stories Behind Late Repayment on Digital Credit in Cote D’Ivoire
Borrowers in Cote D’Ivoire had higher rates of loan non-repayment than those in Kenya and Tanzania, and CGAP wanted to know why. Qualitative research results shed more light on the users’ experience and the possible causes of the late repayments.
Transforming Côte d'Ivoire's Cashew Sector with Phygital Empowerment
In Côte d’Ivoire, Wi-Agri empowers women farmers with digital tools and on-the-ground support. By understanding the challenges rural Ivorian women face, Wi-Agri is able to design for them rather than around them.
Surveys Reveal a Path to Responsible Digital Finance in WAEMU
For the first time, there is comprehensive data on digital financial services users in the WAEMU region, and it highlights the need for more responsible digital finance ecosystems. Strengthening consumer protection is crucial.
Digital Credit in Côte d'Ivoire: A Double-Edged Service
Digital credit can provide opportunities for financial inclusion and improved resilience, but new survey data from Côte d'Ivoire shows the need for greater consumer protection.
Can Disruptive Innovation Favor Financial Inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire?
Côte d'Ivoire's mobile money market is an excellent opportunity to reflect on whether market disruptions contribute to financial inclusion, given a recent revamp of mobile money business models in the country.
Growth of Digital Finance in Côte d’Ivoire is Not Without Risks
While digital financial services are driving financial inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire, we are also seeing the emergence of significant consumer risks that will require concerted action from all stakeholders in the digital finance ecosystem to counteract.
African Digital Credit Goes West
Digital credit is emerging in West Africa. Despite early reports of low default rates, consumer protection policies will be key to avoiding problems witnessed in East Africa.
Beyond Regulations: What’s Driving Mobile Money in Côte d’Ivoire?
Regulations helped spur the recent growth of mobile money in Côte d'Ivoire, but there's more to the story.
Regulations Drive Success of Digital Finance in Côte d’Ivoire
The year 2015 marked a turning point for financial inclusion in Côte d'Ivoire, as nonbanks were allowed to issue e-money. Since then, mobile money has driven big increases in account ownership.
Understanding Côte d’Ivoire’s Financially Excluded Women
Women are 45 percent less likely than men in Côte d’Ivoire to have a mobile money account. Low mobile phone ownership and financial innumeracy remain major barriers.
Digital Credit Helping to Put Kids in Classrooms in Cote d'Ivoire
By partnering with farmers’ cooperatives to offer an innovative digital credit product, Advans is seeing high repayment rates and having an impact on school attendance in rural Cote d'Ivoire.
Financial Innumeracy: A Global Problem for Digital Finance?
Mounting evidence suggests financial innumeracy presents a bigger barrier to financial inclusion than is often acknowledged. Here are three ways to improve numeracy.
Building Rural Digital Ecosystems, One Small Payment at a Time
New research shows that digitizing everyday payments as person-to-person transfers can be a sustainable way for providers to reach customers in rural areas.
In Côte d'Ivoire, Financial Inclusion at a Crossroads
Mobile money is driving overall progress in financial inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire, but it’s also highlighting a digital divide that could leave excluded segments behind if not dealt with through smart policy.
Building Rural Digital Ecosystems: A New Role for Agribusinesses?
Bringing digital finance to the rural poor will require financial services providers to work more creatively with agribusinesses that have extensive experience serving last-mile clients.
Better Regulations Can Spur Agent Banking in WAEMU
Regulations in the West African Economic and Monetary Union have enabled mobile money providers to double their agent networks since 2014, while restricting banks and microfinance institutions. Better regulations would create a level playing field and expand financial inclusion.
Digital Finance in WAEMU: What’s New?
CGAP recently interviewed representatives of 100+ organizations in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali and Niger to better understand the market system for digital financial services in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). What have we learned?
Future of Mobile Money for Cocoa Farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana
New research from the World Cocoa Foundation explores the potential of mobile money to enhance cocoa farmers’ livelihoods in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and paints a detailed persona of customers at the frontier of widespread adoption.