Highlights of the webinar on “Investing in the agents of change”
by MSC
Nov 9, 2022
2 min
Timestamps of the webinar conducted on 2nd November, 2022, on the topic: Investing in the agents of change. See the time stamps below for a better viewing experience.
- 01:37 – 04:31: Anup Singh, Partner, MSC: Welcome note and opening remarks—The importance of CICO agents for financial inclusion
- 4:45 – 10:23: Seth Garz, Senior Program Officer, BMGF: Keynote Speech—The importance of credit for sustainable CICO networks and the role of investors and donors in promoting access to credit for agents
- 10:45 – 23:35: Raunak Kapoor, Senior Manager, MSC: Introduction to MSC’s research on lending to CICO agents across nine diverse low-and middle-income countries and MSC’s estimates for the growth of agent networks
- 23:37 – 27:05: Edward Obiko, Senior Manager, MSC, and Akhand Tiwari, Partner, MSC: Context of the discussion and introduction to the panelists
- 27:21 – 29:33: Jude Mukasa, E-Channels Manager, KCB Uganda: Response to question 1—In the light of challenges around access to credit, how has your partnership with Airtel Money in Uganda reduced agent losses from transaction denial?
- 29:45 – 32:32: Abhinav Sinha, Cofounder, Eko India Financial Services: Response to question 1—In your experience, what factors make lending to agents a safer option than lending to other microenterprises?
- 33:01 – 34:50: Nitin Garg, Co-Founder, FLOW Global: Response to question 1—Agents need different types of credit, but from what we have heard in some markets, agents should not require any sort of financing since they deal with cash-ins and cash-outs. What is your reaction to this with respect to agents’ diversifying needs?
- 35:33 – 39:30: George Maingi, Chief Operating Officer, Asante Financial Services Group: Response to question 1—Could you talk about the role of technology in increasing lenders’ ability to expand into funding CICO agents and their adjacent businesses?
- 39:51 – 42:43: Charlie Graham-Brown, Chief Investment Officer and Partner, Seedstars: Response to question 1—What are some factors that prevent adequate investor interest in this sector?
- 45:10 – 51:38: Abhinav Sinha, Co-founder, Eko India Financial Services: Response to question 2—How do you envision the future of Eko’s lending to agent businesses? Do you see a role of funding or investor support in your plans?
- 52:40 – 55:27: Jude Mukasa, E-Channels Manager, KCB Uganda: Response to question 2— You have seen a unique model of agent lending and a straightforward credit product for agents. Could you share some views on the replicability of this model and how it will vary with other geographies?
- 56:28 – 1:06:28: George Maingi, Chief Operating Officer, Asante Financial Services Group: Response to question 2—Could you share the results of the pilot that you conducted of a credit product for agents? What tweaks did you have to make to the product to match the needs of agents?
- 1:07:23 – 1:13:10: Nitin Garg, Co-founder, FLOW Global: Response to question 2—What are the risks involved in lending directly to agents, and how can an investor ensure portfolio quality? What key concerns and blind spots do investors have around independent lenders for CICO agents?
- 1:13:47 – 1:16:25: Charlie Graham-Brown, Chief Investment Officer and Partner, Seedstars: Response to question 2—What information market awareness gaps need to be addressed to ensure that more investors participate in this sector?
- 1:17:27 – 1:20:22: Behavioral differences between the male and female agents that are lent to
- 1:20:52 – 1:24:08: Anup Singh, Partner, MSC- Closing Remarks
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