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Driving ecosystem impact for fintech associations

14 October 2025

The article at a glance

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), in collaboration with the AllianceDFA, delivered a 3-part capacity building workshop series with the theme ‘Fintech Associations: driving ecosystem impact’ across June and July 2025. Here we explore primary takeaways from the sessions.

The workshop series builds on the first edition of the FinTech Associations: Global Approaches and Good Practices Study, which provided valuable data and insights into the approaches and practices of the global community of Digital Financial Services (DFS)/fintech industry associations. This series was specifically designed for fintech industry associations to build capacity to enable greater impact in their work through a deep dive into specific good practices highlighted in the report.

Shared challenges: ties that bind industry associations

The 3 workshops each explored a key theme inspired by the shared challenges facing fintech industry associations globally. These included dependence on limited funding sources, hurdles in regulatory engagement due to fragmented representation and constrained regulatory capacity, and insufficient resources and technical expertise for effective impact measurement. Despite these obstacles, the sessions highlighted promising strategies, collaborative solutions and a growing momentum toward strengthening the sustainability and impact of fintech associations globally.

We hope the insights from this workshop series empower industry associations to strengthen their revenue models, engage effectively with regulators, and drive inclusive, innovation-led fintech ecosystems.

Nick Clark Co-Head, Cambridge Regulatory Innovation Hub, CCAF

Innovative solutions for sustainability and impact

Participants actively exchanged best practices aimed at overcoming key challenges and unlocking new opportunities for fintech associations. These included embracing more flexible and diversified funding models to boost financial sustainability, fostering structured and ongoing collaboration between regulators and industry associations to strengthen engagement, and refining impact measurement frameworks to better reflect evolving fintech ecosystem dynamics, member needs and funder expectations. The discussions underscored a shared commitment to contributing to the transformation and long-term growth of the fintech sector.

The workshops were diverse and engaging, highlighting best practices and allowing participants to leave with new ideas and strategies for revenue generation, engaging with their regulators and driving innovation and inclusion in their ecosystems.

Sarah Corley CEO, Alliance of Digital Finance and Fintech Associations, Alliance of Digital Finance and Fintech Associations

When associations align around best practices and proven strategies, they unlock the power to turn insight into lasting impact.

Sarah Ombija, Regulatory Innovation Lead, SSA, CCAF

Empowering industry associations to move from insight to action  

By applying the best practices shared during the workshops, industry associations are well-positioned to amplify their impact and continue shaping more enabling environments for fintech growth. Through unified representation and deeper collaboration with regulators and policymakers, and ensuring ongoing impact measurement, associations can play a pivotal role in driving sector-wide progress. Adapting these insights to fit their unique contexts will help ensure relevance, effectiveness and long-term sustainability.