Digitization

Using digital tools to grow africulture and financial inclusion in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a sole mobile network provider and a banking sector that is closed to foreign ownership. Does that make it easy for the government to take a rural-first approach to digitization? Learn about it more in this USAIDFeed The Future brief that also mentions the Alliance.

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 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.

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.

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.

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…

Poverty and Migration in the Digital Age: Experimental Evidence on Mobile Banking in Bangladesh

This study traces the impact of mobile money transfers on rural poverty. Migrants actively using the technology increased remittances sent by 30% in value.

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…

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.

The Impact of Formal Savings on Salaried Workers’ Spending and Borrowing in Eastern Ghana

This J-PAL study looks at the impact of commitment savings linked to electronic salary payments. While the results varied for different users, the research highlights the importance of using…

Bridging the Digital Divide and Supporting Increased Digital Trade: Scoping Study

The global economy is experiencing important technological shifts, with the rise of digital technology a key driver. This can be seen today in the rapid growth of the digital economy, broadl…

Unlocking digital for Bharat: 50 Billion opportunity

This research focused on developing insights on understanding key user barriers and interventions required across various stages of the user journey …

Young women key to digital payments adoption

With 180 million unbanked people, Indonesia is one of the most valuable untapped digital payments markets in the Asia Pacific region. According to a Think with Google paper, women aged 25-34 will be the key to enabling adoption in the country.

Prerequisites to digitizing the agricultural last mile