Is cash still relevant?

2018 highlights!

Here are highlights on how our global partnership ignited progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through shifting to digital payments.

Cash Digitization: UN Collaboration, Coordination, and Harmonization Opportunities

Cash Digitization: UN Collaboration, Coordination, and Harmonization Opportunities

New digitization study recommends strengthening cash assistance collaboration across UN agencies & partners, to improve coordination and harmonization.

Mobile banking in the government-to-person payment sector for financial inclusion in Pakistan

Through an interpretive case study of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in Pakistan, this paper critically examines mobile banking usage by women beneficiaries and technology’s effects on the institutional properties of their households.

Mobile Technology and Financial Service Bundling: A Structural Estimation of Mobile Money

The paper examines the effects of mobile money as financial technology and service innovation on consumer demand, connecting the effects to the fast evolving mobile technologies (from 1G to 4G).

Mobile money increasing healthcare access

The article highlights that although health insurance coverage is still low in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile money use have increased access to it.

Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in the Papua New Guinea Resource Regions

This study investigates whether strengthening mobile money ecosystems around PNG’s resource regions can improve the distribution of compensation and benefits payments for local communities; Enhance social license for resources companies; and catalyze financial inclusion efforts.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2018: A New Economy in Middle East and North Africa

This report lays out the principles for a new digital economy for MENA that embraces innovation and entrepreneurship, youth and women economic empowerment, rekindling the role of State, etc.

Mapping the Merchant's Mind: An Analysis of Digital Payment Behaviors by Fixed Store Merchants in Jaipur

A year and a half post demonetization, only about 5% of India’s ~60 million MSMEs own digital acceptance devices. This report provides a deeper context and recommendations on small business profiles, infrastructure, needs, behaviors, and perceptions.

Management of Mobile Financial Services—Review and Way Forward

The paper provides an extensive literature review of the existing global MFS industrya and discusses key learning and recommendations based on insights from ‘Easypaisa’ in Pakistan.

Is mobile payment still relevant in the fintech era?

This study analyzes whether mobile payments are still relevant for the fintech industry by comparing three mobile payment projects – Oi Paggo in Brazil, TCASH in Indonesia, and M-PESA in Kenya.

Is biometric technology in social protection programmes illegal or arbitrary? an analysis of privacy and data protection

The paper discusses the issue of inadequate privacy and personal data protection in social protection programmes, particularly related to biometric data, presenting good practices from India, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Pakistan and many more countries.

Interoperability of Digital Finance in Bangladesh: Challenges and Taking-Off Options

The paper suggests a pragmatic approach for Bangladesh to financially include the underserved through Digital financial services (DFS) by promoting interoperability.

News and Trends in Fintech and Digital Microfinance: Why Are European MFIs Invisible?

This study shares some best practices in the use of digital technologies by highly innovative fintech firms in areas that could be of use to MFIs in context of Europe.

Next Steps for the Digital Revolution in Africa: Inclusive Growth and Job Creation Lessons from Kenya

This paper provides examples of how digitization in Kenya has supported the economy via a retail electronic payments system, financial inclusion, increased financial sector vibrancy, and pushed GDP growth with it.

Household finance and economic development

This chapter provides an overview of financial inclusion around the world and discusses the empirical evidence on how the use of formal financial services significantly contribute to inclusive growth and economic development.

Gender differences in the antecedents of trust in mobile social networking services

Building upon social role theory (SRT), this study explores the driving forces of trust in mobile social networking services (mobile SNS) for different genders.

Fintech for promoting financial inclusion in Vietnam: fact findings and policy implications

This paper analyzes the legal framework and actual operations of fintech in Vietnam, assesses the opportunities and challenges and proposes recommendations for better application of fintech for promoting financial inclusion.

Get in the fast lane through digital payments

In this 4-part blog series, we examine key aspects of the transportation sector: tolling, urban transit, and ride-sharing with a focus on emerging economies.