Mobile money

This review provides an overview of the operations and impacts of mobile money in the developing world and discussing what the future of mobile money in developing economies may look like.

Financial inclusion, a driver of state building in India and Mexico?

This article situates latest trends within the evolution of Indian and Mexican social policies and discusses how on one hand financial inclusion policies allow vulnerable populations to access new rights while resulting in new ways of controlling consumer behavior.

Fintech for Financial Inclusion: A Framework for Digital Financial Transformation-A Report to the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)

The paper outlines potential for growth for FinTech for financial inclusion while emphasising on the need for regulatory approaches , citing some successful cases from India , Kenya and China.

Global Microscope 2018: The Enabling Environment for Financial Inclusion

It sets a model for an enabling environment for financial inclusion across five domains: 1. Government and Policy Support; 2. Stability and Integrity; 3. Products and Outlets; 4. Consumer Pr…

An Introduction to Digital Financial Services (DFS)

Digital Financial Services (DFS) is a relatively new, low-cost means of digital access to transactional financial services. Often termed ‘mobile money’ or ‘mobile financial services,’ DFS is…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Blockchain for Social Business: Principles and Applications

This paper identifies and discusses principles and applications of Blockchain that enhance trust, transparency, and auditability in Social Business (SB) activities. It outlines the challenges related to creating a native cryptocurrency for SB, and barriers to infrastructure and technology adoption by different SB stakeholders.

Leveraging Digital Financial Solutions to Promote Formal Business Participation

This paper explores economic informality and how it relates to digital financial inclusion. It focuses specifically on the potential role that digital financial services–including those accessed through mobile phones and the internet can play in encouraging businesses to formalize their operations.

New blockchain for social impact report

The new Stanford Business “Blockchain for Social Impact" report is out! The most common use case among its sample of organizations is records and verification, whereas the challenges cited most often are regulatory. The interviewees reported that launching the project was harder than anticipated.

Improving Financial Inclusion through the Delivery of Cash Transfer Programmes: The Case of Mexico's Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera Programme

This paper follows a quasi-experimental research design to assess the impact of the electronic payment system of Mexico’s Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera (POP) programme.

One Acre Fund Study

Find out how mobile payments are better than cash for Kenyan farmers

Webinar recording > Managing Liquidity and Cash-Out for Social Payments During COVID-19

This webinar captured lessons on delivering vital government-to-person (G2P) payments that expands choice.

Accelerating responsible digital payments for COVID-19 relief

The devastating social and economic impacts of COVID-19 have heightened the need for proven solutions to keep the Sustainable Development Goals within reach

Cash Digitization: UN Collaboration, Coordination, and Harmonization Opportunities

Pakistan Plans to Bring Millions More Citizens into the Economy by Digitizing Payments

Government of Pakistan joins the United Nations’ Better Than Cash Alliance to create inclusive economic growth and a more efficient market structure…

Uruguay makes great strides toward the universalization of access to financial services

The government joins the United Nations-based alliance of governments, companies and international organizations that works to accelerate the move toward digitization of payments…