Academic cooperation marks meeting on inclusive FinTech at the University of Cape Town
Researchers from FGVCemif and FGV EAESP participate in an international seminar that gathered specialists from Brazil and South Africa to discuss financial inclusion and innovation
On November 20, researchers from FGV EAESP and the Center for Studies in Microfinance and Financial Inclusion (FGVCemif) participated in the seminar Inclusive FinTech: FGV–UCT Meeting, held at the University of Cape Town (UCT), one of the leading academic institutions on the African continent. The meeting was coordinated by Professor Camille Meyer (UCT GSB - Graduate School of Business) and Professor Eduardo Diniz (FGV EAESP). The event brought together faculty, researchers, government representatives, and fintech representatives from Brazil and South Africa to discuss pathways to innovation, financial inclusion, and socioeconomic development.
The morning program featured presentations from Brazilian researchers. Professor Lauro Gonzalez presented preliminary results of the research “Brazil’s Journey Toward Financial Inclusion,” conducted in collaboration with the Central Bank and funded by the Gates Foundation. Professor Érica Siqueira presented her research on socio-environmental fintechs, which is funded by CNPq. Professors Eduardo Diniz and Marcio Macedo addressed topics related to Black fintechs.
Next, researchers from UCT GSB, Cecile Feront, Jess Auerbach Jahajeeah, Nelson Manyenga, and Camille Meyer presented studies on environmental disclosure, technological infrastructure, stokvels, and complementary currencies in African contexts.
The afternoon session promoted interaction between academia and the market, featuring a panel that included representatives from Brazilian fintechs such as Conta Black and e-Dinheiro, as well as participation from the director of ABFintech. African fintechs and initiatives also participated in a panel dedicated to local experiences, including a presentation from UCT FinHub led by Allan Davids.
The event also hosted a session on inter-regional collaboration opportunities, with a special participation by Brazilian diplomat Rômulo Neves, currently based in Rwanda, who has previously served in countries such as Mozambique, Ethiopia, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The meeting concluded with a synthesis of the main learnings and the definition of next steps, reinforcing the joint commitment of the institutions to strengthen academic and professional cooperation between the two continents.
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