-
Weekly Roundup – 10/11/14: The Battle of Kenya
Has the battle for Kenya’s mobile money market officially begun? For months we’ve been following the growing tension between Equity Bank and Safaricom, as everyone from regulators to politicians took sides. But this week the war may have begun in earnest - though both parties continue to downplay the rivalry. We discuss the implications in this Roundup.
- Categories
- Technology
-
‘Positive, though not transformative’: Recent research clarifies the impact of microcredit, and points to ways it can improve
Recent research suggests that microcredit may not be targeting the world’s poorest as effectively as was once thought, says IPA. But these studies also tell a story of positive, though not transformative, results. They point to the importance of diversification of the traditional microcredit model, providing additional services in finance and beyond.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
-
Direct-to-Farmer Finance: Business models for serving the hardest-to-reach smallholders
An estimated 90 percent of smallholder farmers lack strong relationships with buyers, limiting their access to finance, inputs, training and other support. And it’s difficult for financial providers to reach them. That’s why direct-to-farmer finance is so important, says Dalberg’s Laura Goldman. She discusses a new briefing on the approach from the Initiative for Smallholder Finance.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education
-
Branchless banking introduced for poor households in Indonesia
Bank Indonesia (BI) officially launched on Wednesday an electronic payment system to support the transfer of government direct cash assistance to poor families in several provinces in the country.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
OPINION: Products meant for the affluent, urban market will not work for the financially excluded in India
Stripped-down versions of products meant for the affluent, urban Indian will not work for the financially excluded
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
OPINION: Here Comes the Internet of Money
A new wave of financial innovation is forming, that could sweep over traditional banking, traditional payments systems, even the traditional idea of money.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Safaricom, Commercial Bank of Africa launch campaign to deepen financial inclusion
Commercial Bank of Africa and Safaricom have launched a campaign to deepen financial inclusion and access to financial services, targeting M-PESA customers who have yet to start using mobile savings and micro - loan solution M-Shwari.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
How to Make Financial Education Less Boring: Taking it beyond sales pitches and theoretical financial management concepts
Financial education, financial literacy and even financial capability sound both condescending AND boring, says MicroSave. Worse, they fail to clarify what’s on offer to very poor people whose only real incapability is their limited financial resources. This post describes alternate ways financial service providers can offer these customers relevant, meaningful information that isn’t just a sales pitch or theoretical concept.
- Categories
- Education