Centre of Excellence
Feb
02
2023
Opening soon -- 2nd ReFinD request for proposals for research in retail finance distribution
The Retail Finance Distribution (ReFinD) research initiative will open for applications for the second round of sub-grants in February 2023. Successful applicants will be awarded grants to undertake research and test innovations in retail finance/ agent banking for financial inclusion in low and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
Jan
18
2023
Adadzewa Otoo Kottoh appointed Project Director of ReFinD Research Initiative
Adadzewa Otoo Kottoh has been appointed Project Director of Retail Finance Distribution (ReFinD), a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded research initiative that focuses on deepening digital financial inclusion for women, poor households, SMEs, and other retail businesses in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
FinTech and the Future of Banks and Financial Services in Africa
Abstract
This chapter examines the role of financial technology (FinTech) in transforming the delivery of banking and financial services and its potential in promoting financial inclusion in Africa. The chapter discusses the main types of FinTech which include mobile money, mobile banking, crowdfunding, and blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies and their market developments in Africa.
Sep
20
2022
ReFinD awards grants for 3 pilot studies
The Retail and Finance Distribution (ReFinD) research initiative has awarded grants for three pilot studies to be conducted in three countries. This comes at the end of the first call for proposals which was issued during the project launch in June this year.
Jul
20
2022
ReFinD outreach workshop held
The Retail Finance Distribution (ReFinD) research initiative hosted an outreach workshop to share with participants key project information, in particular information about the first call for proposals and how interested research teams and organisations can access funding.
Prof. Ernest Aryeetey
Ernest Aryeetey is the Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana.
Prof. Peter Quartey
Peter Quartey holds a PhD in Development Economics from the University of Manchester (UK), MSc in Quantitative Development Economics (University of Warwick, UK), MPhil. Economics (Ghana), and BA Economics (Ghana). He is a Professor in Development Economics and the immediate past Head, Department of Economics and Director (Economic Management Programme), University of Ghana. He served as the Deputy Director, Centre for Migration Studies (University of Ghana). Prof.
Prof. Francis Annan
Francis Annan is an Assistant Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley ARE, a J-PAL Affiliated Professor at MIT, the Scientific Lead and Co-Chair of the Retail Finance Distribution (ReFinD) Research Initiative at ISSER, and a Fellow at the Center for Development Economics and Policy (CDEP) and the Center for Environmental Economics and Policy (CEEP).
Mr. Kwame Agyapong Oppong
Kwame Oppong is Head of Fintech and Innovation at Bank of Ghana. Previously, he was a consultant with CGAP focused on digital financial services ecosystems, including providers, central banks, finance ministries, and other stakeholders, to advance financial inclusion through digital financial services. Before joining CGAP, Mr. Oppong was the general manager for Tigo, a mobile financial service provider in Ghana.