ISSER’s ReFinD Research Initiative signs strategic partnerships with leading financial service providers to drive financial inclusion through research solutions

  • Time to read 1 minute
IMG

Tara Squire, Regional and Consumer Head at Ecobank Group, Jacqueline Mpare, Head of Agency Banking at Ecobank Group, and Prof. Peter Quartey celebrate the signing of a pivotal agreement aimed at advancing financial inclusion through research and innovation.

ISSER, through its flagship ReFinD research initiative, has marked a significant milestone in its commitment to development-oriented research by establishing partnerships with two leading commercial service providers in Ghana's financial sector: Ecobank Ghana and MobileMoney LTD (a subsidiary of MTN). These strategic collaborations aim to expand financial inclusion across Ghana and beyond by leveraging research-driven solutions to enhance financial service delivery to underserved and vulnerable communities.

The agreements represent a strategic alignment between academic research and commercial implementation, with both agreements focusing on enhancing financial service delivery through agent networks.

"These partnerships will enable us to conduct research that directly impacts service delivery to underserved communities. Working with commercial leaders like Ecobank and MobileMoney LTD demonstrates our commitment to producing relevant, actionable research findings," said Prof. Peter Quartey, Director of ISSER.

Fostering financial inclusion through strategic partnerships

IMG
ISSER faculty and staff stand alongside Ecobank representatives in this group photo, emphasising the strong collaboration and institutional support that will drive the success of the partnership.

 

The partnership with Ecobank Ghana, formalised in December 2024, focuses on advancing financial inclusion through agent banking research. This collaboration combines ReFinD's academic expertise and funding capabilities with Ecobank's extensive retail network, spanning 33 African markets. The research will address key challenges such as agent dormancy, customer uptake, and the role of agents in promoting financial literacy and SME development.

IMG
Shaibu Haruna, CEO of MobileMoney Ltd, and Prof. Peter Quartey, Director of ISSER, seal their commitment to advancing financial inclusion with a handshake following the signing of a transformative research partnership agreement.

 

The MobileMoney LTD partnership, signed in January 2025, centres on mobile money agent networks and aims to address critical constraints hindering market penetration in underserved areas. Through this collaboration, ReFinD grantees will gain access to Mobile Money agents and valuable market insights to facilitate impactful research outcomes.

Both partnerships will examine crucial aspects of financial inclusion, including market entry barriers, operational challenges, and strategies for expanding services in underserved areas.

IMG
Prof. Peter Quartey outlines the strategic vision of the collaboration between MobileMoney LTD and ReFinD, engaging representatives from both organizations.

 

These strategic collaborations mark a new chapter in ISSER's research portfolio, reinforcing its position as a leading institution in development-oriented research. The involvement of major commercial providers not only enhances the practical relevance of ISSER's research but also ensures that findings can be directly implemented to improve financial service delivery across Ghana, potentially serving as a model for other African markets.

IMG
(L-R): MobileMoney LTD's Solomon Hayford, Head of Business Intelligence and Analytics; CEO Shaibu Haruna; and Chief Finance Officer Susan Yawson, join ISSER and ReFinD representatives Prof. Peter Quartey, ReFinD Co-Chair,Prof. Francis Annan, ReFinD Project Director Adadzewa Otoo, and ISSER Administrative Secretary Mawuena Akuamoah-Boateng following the successful signing of their partnership agreement.

 

For more details on the partnership with Ecobank, click here.

For more details on the partnership with MTN MobileMoney LTD, click here.