Working with the National Credit Regulator—enabled by a grant from US AID—and FinMark Trust, PERC undertook separate efforts to research the viability of increasing access to credit among members of the informal economy through the collection and use of alternative data, including trade credit data. PERC efforts in South Africa included:
- Extensive field research on consumer and SMME transaction nodes with emphasis on informal economy;
- Advocacy with National Credit Regulator;
- Outreach to industry stakeholders; and,
- Generate original research measuring social and economic impacts from using alternative data in consumer and commercial credit risk assessment.