Nairobi, Dec. 21 -- What would happen if more people in the informal economy had access to the tools they needed to earn a stable income? The answer, is not merely individual benefit. It is an economic transformation.

Today, millions of people rely on motorcycles, tuk-tuks and smartphones to participate in the fast-growing digital and service economies. These assets enable transportation of people and goods, facilitate payments and logistics, and connect entrepreneurs to customers, suppliers and opportunities.

Yet for a very long time, access to such assets was limited to those who could meet strict, formal credit requirements. These criteria excluded the majority of working people.

Entrepreneurship in these markets is rarely optional....