The Small Firm Diaries is a global research initiative to better understand small firms in low-income neighborhoods of developing countries, especially the barriers to growth such firms face, through high frequency quantitative and qualitative data collection (“financial diaries”).

MSC conducted qualitative research in Kenya, Ghana and Togo and found that Indigenous Financial Services (IFS), such as rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs), informal moneylenders and burial societies play a critical role in driving access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

Based on research with platforms and their workers across five countries, this report describes the platform ecosystem in emerging markets, the experiences of workers and sellers in key sectors, and how financial services can help these workers improve their livelihoods.

This slide deck shares female workers’ experiences and how financial services can help make platforms more inclusive.