Africa middle east

China cashing out as mobile payment soars (AFP)

In China, a Store of the Future—No Checkout, No Staff

Alipay, WeChat Near $3 Trillion

First look at how garment workers are being paid globally

In a first study of its kind, data from nearly 3,000 factories across 58 countries, reveals that paying workers digitally correlates positively with better working conditions.

Report of the High-level committee on deepening of digital payments

Nandan Nilekani-led high-level panel submitted its report on deepening digital payments in India. It calls for pivoting the ecosystem from issuance to acceptance and shares practical recommendations for doing that. The report refers to 6 Alliance publications.

Mobile Banking for Empowerment Muslim Women Entrepreneur: Evidence from Asia (Indonesia and Bangladesh)

Through an extensive literature review, the paper provides evidence about role of mobile banking as well as branchless banking is significant for women entrepreneur’s empowerment, especially for financially including them.

Innovations in family planning: Case studies from India

This book features case studies from India demonstrating approaches of problem solving, enhancing quality family planning care at the grass-roots level and facilitates advocacy, strengthening programme design and enhancing competency as well as orienting the healthcare system.

India's Progress Towards Cashless Economy-An Assessment

The study attempts to assess and report the progress made by the Reserve Bank of India in moving towards the ‘Cashless’ economy during the period 2004-05 to 2014-15.

Inclusive Growth Through Branchless Banking: A Review of Agent Banking and Its Impact

The paper explores the opportunities to overcome barriers to financial access in Bangladesh through branchless banking and emphasis that financial inclusion and inclusive growth could be advanced through existing work by Bangladesh bank on favorable agent banking policies

Digitizing merchant payments in Bangladesh

Better placement of marketing materials can help boost usage of digital payments in small merchants. What are some other ways to drive usage? Read this IFC report that is based on feedback and learnings from early adopters of bKash in Bangladesh.

Building State Capacity: Evidence from Biometric Smartcards in India

NBER Working Paper No. 19999
Issued in March 2014

Summary:

We evaluate the impact of biometrically-authenticated payments infrastructure (“Smartcards”) on beneficiaries of employm…

Aadhaar: Digital Inclusion and Public Services in India

Aadhaar, India’s program to provide a unique identity number for every resident, is the largest biometric identification program in the world. Launched in 2008, the program has created biome…

Beneficiary Perceptions and Attitudes in Fiji: Facilitating Migration from Paper-based to Electronic Benefit Distribution

This study exams the real and perceived constraints social welfare beneficiaries and low income households face in using formal banking services. The study was done to inform the government…

Increasing factory worker well-being through digital payroll

Leading apparel companies have collaborated with each other on the BSR Herfinance program to improve worker well-being through payroll digitization.

Increasing supply chain transparency through digital payments

Gap Inc. has helped improve factory performance and promoted worker well-being by digitizing salaries for factory workers in India.

Increasing partner loyalty through digital payments

The National Dairy Development Board digitized its payments to dairy farmers – unlocking significant business and social benefits.

The Role of Digital Payments in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Finance Ministers of the economies of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) endorsed the new Better Than Cash Alliance report on the role of digital payments in sustainable agriculture on 21st October, in Viet Nam.

Social Networks, e-Commerce Platforms, and the Growth of Digital Payment Ecosystems in China: What it Means for Other Countries

This report examines two of China’s most far-reaching applications – WeChat and Alipay – and explores their role in the development of one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated digital payments ecosystems.

Digitizing Wage Payments in Bangladesh’s Garment Production Sector

This report is the first of its kind to document key data points on the costs and benefits of wage digitization from a factory perspective.

Country Diagnostic: Bangladesh

This Diagnostic Report shows Bangladesh is making significant strides toward a digital economy, and outlines specific policy measures that can underpin further digitization of payments into the future.