Omidyar network

Using technology to improve agent models

This CGDev study sets out to understand the effectiveness of reforms taken by Andhra Pradesh to digitalize service delivery. It identifies access, accountability, choice, and voice as the four principles underlying the digital reforms there.

The Effect of Payment Choices on Online Retail: Evidence from the 2016 Indian Demonetization

This Harvard Business School paper concludes that consumers who switch to digital payments maintain their purchase frequency but spend more and are less likely to return their purchases.

Client Voices: Rwandans Speak on Digital Financial Services

Based on a survey of over 1,200 people in three districts of Rwanda, this Smart Campaign report delves into the experiences of users of digital financial services.

The Impact of Mobile Money on Poor Rural Households : Experimental Evidence from Uganda

Does access to mobile money help improve livelihood in remote settings? This paper shows that rolling out mobile money agents in Northern Uganda led to cost-savings for remittance transactions. It also shows that access to digital payments doubled the nonfarm self-employment rate and reduced the fraction of households with very low food security. 

Improving financial inclusion through data for smallholder farmers in Kenya

As mobile-based digital agricultural solutions take hold in Kenya, there is a great opportunity to use data for improving financial inclusion of smallholder farmers.

Perspectives from SME banking leaders

IFC report aggregates responses from 114 SME banking executives serving more than 17.5 million small businesses.

The age of digital interdependence

The UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation released this report. It highlights the need for inclusivity and protection of human rights to ensure a safe digital future for all and shares 5 key recommendations.  

Role of DFS in youth employment

What roles do financial services play in enabling youth education and employment? This CGAP working paper, for policy-makers and funders, outlines the existing evidence and highlights important questions about how to deliver comprehensive and broad-reaching interventions at scale.

Consumer protection standards for digital credit 

Similar to the RDPGs, this Smart Campaign publication identifies standards for responsible digital financial services, especially credit. It aims to guide the practices of both fintechs and traditional financial service providers undergoing digital transformation. 

Five recommendations for enhancing finclusion

A new World Bank economic analysis says Ghana can reach universal financial access across regions and key demographics using innovative technology.

Imparting financial literacy through tablets

Understanding Blockchain

Read the six-blog series that aims to foster a better understanding of the technology.

Blockchain: Cutting through the noise

Introduction: Framing of our blog series on distributed ledger technology…

Distributed Ledger Technology: What Is It and Why Do We Care?

Blockchain Series: Blog 1…

Distributed Ledgers: Looking Past the Hype

Blockchain Series: Blog 2…

DLT: Keep Calm and Let the Evidence Speak

Blockchain Series: Blog 3…

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Identity: Prospects and Pitfalls Ahead

Blockchain Series: Blog 4

Distributing Production: Can Distributed Ledgers Fuel a New Wave of Supply-Chain Innovation?

Blockchain Series: Blog 5

Paying Across Borders: Can Distributed Ledgers Bring Us Closer Together?

Blockchain Series: Blog 6

Public Financial Management and the Digitalization of Payments

Joint report by the Better Than Cash Alliance, the Center for Global Development, and the Overseas Development Institute, building on work with the International Monetary Fund in 2017.