-
Who Is the ‘User’ In ‘User-Centred Design’?: When it comes to financial products, don’t discount the role of intermediaries
The obvious “users” of financial products are the end customers of the financial institution or mobile network operator. But as Graham Wright of Microsave notes, there is another very important “user” - the organization that will ultimately deliver the product.
- Categories
- Education
-
Cheaper, Faster, Better?: Mercy Corps compares E-transfers and cash in the DRC
International humanitarian agencies are increasingly offering cash and vouchers as humanitarian assistance. But distributing cash carries security risks for agencies and recipients, while presenting accounting and logistical challenges. Electronic alternatives or vouchers could address these issues, but how well do they work? Mercy Corps studied the question in a program in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
- Tags
- digital payments, research
-
More Than Credit: Can microfinance also deliver affordable health care?
Poor people should have greater demand for health coverage than any other market, but the microfinance sector has had difficulty convincing poor people to pay insurance premiums. In response, BRAC launched its own health loan pilot – the “medical treatment loan” – by partnering its microfinance and health programs in Bangladesh.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
-
Nestle-NGO Tie-Up to Provide Adolescent Health Education
In order to inform adolescents about the benefits of proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Nestle India signed an agreement Wednesday with Magic Bus India Foundation, an NGO, a company statement said here.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
-
Financial Education in the Digital Age: It’s affordable, it’s scalable – but does it work?
Financial education is a key strategy for achieving full financial inclusion. But in-person group training by a human trainer have failed to consistently improve beneficiaries’ knowledge and behavior, and they are often too costly to scale. Nowadays, however, individualized financial education can reach millions at a low cost via digital platforms. IPA is examining the impact and potential of these programs.
- Categories
- Education
-
Wireless Wallets Open Up Health, Education Models: Early observations from two sectors in Kenya harnessing mobile money
While M-Pesa is not as commonly used in Kenya’s social sectors as one would expect, Bridge International Academies and Penda Health currently use mobile money to extend education and health services to the poor. An on-the-ground evaluation found many differences between the programs but some similarities, too, and opportunities to learn.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Technology
-
Champions of the Toilet: The best way to solve open defecation, the authors say, is to focus on demand, not construction
Access to toilets doesn’t always fix the problem of open defecation; in fact, partial coverage generates insignificant health benefits. Therefore, to address India’s malnutrition and health crisis, it is important to promote widespread adoption of toilet use.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
- Tags
- public health
-
PRESS RELEASE: Inaugural “Inclusive Finance India Global Summit” Promotes Financial Inclusion
The first “Inclusive Finance India Global Summit” in Delhi, organized by ACCESS, a national think tank, was inaugurated on Monday (December 8) by Shri HR Khan, deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The two days of deliberations at the Summit covered issues related to Financial Inclusion, Financial Education and Financial Stability, and built a Financial Inclusion Vision 2020. MetLife Foundation is proud to be one of the two principal partners in the Inclusive Finance Summit.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- South Asia