Asia pacific

Near-term impact of India’s demonetization

New Harvard University paper looks at the impact of demonetization on the Indian economy. It finds that, in the near-term, the event led to “temporary reductions in employment, output, and credit.” But “there may be potential longer-term benefits” in several areas, including tax collection.

Introducing GSM-enabled PAYG Solar in Cambodia

The report tracks the implementation of a Cambodian company Kamwork’s pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar home systems (SHSs) with GSM-based machine-to- machine (M2M) connectivity to validate the business model and determine what level of support from GSM network coverage.

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

A Case Study on Monetary Fraud in a Cashless Economy

A case study on three countries Sweden, United States and India is conducted to survey variations in costs for cash and card instruments in economies that have varying extents of cash in cir…

Financial technology business model as branchless banking for people in rural areas: Case study: Indonesia

This study designs business models for electronic payment services, utilizing the principle of branchless banking and reviewing relevant aspects of IT risk management, for rural area communities in Indonesia.

Bringing E-money to the Poor: Successes and Failures

This report examines the successful lessons from Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand case studies of “gazelles", that leapt from limitation to innovation by successfully enabling the deployment of e-money technology.

Accelerating Financial Inclusion in South-East Asia with Digital Finance

Focussing on women, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the paper highlights that digital financial solutions could play a significant part in closing gaps in financial inclusion and povides insights from Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Mobile Banking Operations and Banking Facilities to Rural People in Bangladesh

The paper estabishes that mobile applications are well positioned in Bangladesh’s m-commerce market and are capable of driving sales of high-end mobile phones while providing better services to the users.

Mobile Financial Services In Bangladesh

The report provides an overview of the MFS progress in Bangladesh and discusses how selection of staff and beneficiaries from USAID agriculture and health projects are using both traditional and mobile financial services.

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

Building consumer demand for digital financial services–the new regulatory frontier

Digital financial services (DFS) are held out as key financial solutions for improving financial inclusion. However, targeted end users often offer little in the way of obvious profitable op…

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…

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.

Cashless Nigeria – Leading by example

As Nigeria rolls out one of the developing world’s most ambitious policy platforms to boost digital payments and drive greater financial inclusion, it’s important to take stock of the country’s progress to date, so that policy-makers around the world can learn from Nigeria’s experiences.

BSP Holds Digital Payments Leaders Summit as the Country Moves Closer to a Cash-lite Economy

LEARNING SERIES >> What will it take for small merchants to embrace digital payments?

Small merchants exert a big influence on the global economy.

How to shape inclusive financial ecosystems with interoperable QR codes

Interoperability drives global digital inclusion. Over 25% more adults access government payments, but siloed systems hinder seamless transactions.

LEARNING SERIES >> How to scale up digital wages in line with the UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments

Lessons from Bangladesh, Jordan, and Senegal

Picking the Gridlock: Digital Payments in the Transportation Sector

Transportation Series: Blog 1 (Introduction)

For whom the cash tolls

Transportation Series: Blog 2…