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Top 10 List: Powerful Partnerships in Branchless Banking

A few weeks ago in Washington, DC, we hosted many of our partners who are implementing branchless banking products and services around the world. This was a chance not only for us to learn about the state of play of the industry at a global level, but also to allow the partners themselves to share learnings and experiences with each other.

MasterCard Foundation & BRAC USA Visit Ethiopia Graduation Pilot

Ann Miles of The MasterCard Foundation and Susan Davis of BRAC USA went on a field visit to Relief Society of Tigray (REST) Ethiopia Graduation Program site in Tigray, Ethiopia.

What Do Clients Really Want from Insurance?

Some say that insurance does not have a natural ‘fit’ with financial behaviors of low-income households, given that benefits are deferred in time and limited to just those few who claim. But, the shocks experienced by those lacking good risk-management tools have such devastating effects on livelihoods, that it is important not to abandon insurance as a development tool only because the ‘fit’ is not obvious.

MSME, MSME, and MSME…

Regionally, MSMEs account for more than 40% of private-sector employment, yet in many MENA countries they lack access to finance, opportunities to market their products, and effective business development services.

The Arab Spring and Microfinance in Syria

The winds of the Arab Spring gusted late into Syria, arriving within a climate quite distinct from the political storm that swept through Egypt and Tunisia. Violent clashes between protestors and government forces in Syria are ongoing without any sign of slackening, dispute resolution, or concord bringing a timely settlement.

Microfinance in Yemen: The Abyan Program

In 2011, some institutions and microfinance programs in Yemen have cut down loan disbursement, and even at times, stopped lending completely, leading to a decrease in the number of clients in Yemen.

Behavioral Invention: A Practitioner’s Perspective

All the research and field experience suggests that savings accounts needed to be easily accessible, flexible, and cheap to ensure adoption.

Tracking Mobile Money Use in Haiti

We all remember the devastating 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010 reportedly destroying about one-third of the country’s bricks-and-mortar bank branches, limiting Haitians’ ability to send and receive money transfers, cash checks, or simply access much-needed cash resources.

Savings and Investment Needs of Rural Inhabitants

Taking a closer look at specific client segments to understand their sources and flow of income and expenses and their strategies for investment and savings can help providers develop financial products they meet their needs and complement the solutions they already employ.

Refocusing on Client Experiences and Their Struggles

By learning to better protect customers struggling with their debt, we will automatically improve the risk management and thus portfolio quality of MFIs.

From Data to Action: Using Finscope in Nigeria

Since 2002, FinMark Trust has promoted FinScope, a research tool to address the need for credible information that could facilitate evidence-based financial sector development.

Beyond Payments or Just Different Payments?

Everyone is always talking about trying to move the branchless banking industry beyond just payments. Those of us concerned with accelerating “real financial inclusion” long to see credit, savings and insurance products pushed over new delivery channels. But is it possible that there’s still work to be done within the payments space itself, just diversifying a bit beyond simple P2P transfers?

A Quick Journey Through the History of Usury

Microfinance is at a critical juncture, and as we reflect on how we got here, should ask: What makes us different from what was previously done through the ages, since coins were first established as a medium of exchange? And how do we maintain what’s different and avoid slipping into the well-worn paths that emerge when we examine the history of usury?

Paying Attention to the Financial Needs of Youth

Despite growing interest in youth financial services as a means to financial inclusion, until recently there has been precious little publicly available information on what youth in developing countries want from financial institutions.

Efforts to Support Micro and Small Enterprises

The Bank, in partnership with the government as well as a variety of stakeholders including NGO’s, banks, and micro and small enterprises, has been supporting the financing needs of micro and small businesses through the Enhancing Access to Micro and Small Enterprises Project.

Using Research to Take Product Development to the Next Level

There are multiple reasons for financial institutions to respond to the needs of their clients, including meeting the mission of the institution, expanding market share, and achieving long term profitability.

The AP Crisis One Year On: The NCAER Study

The recent study by the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER), sponsored by the Microfinance Network (MFIN), brings much-needed data into the discussion. Covering over ten thousand households across multiple Indian regions, this study merits attention.

Is Microcredit Over-Indebtedness a Worldwide Problem?

In a nutshell, one microcredit market after another is entering into a new, uncharted world of credit saturation. In these markets, over-indebtedness will probably pose a major risk for clients, not to mention the lenders.

“When Product Innovation Meets Agile Development”

This post describes a second key feature of the three Product Labs which will be established by CGAP’s bank, telco and other partners.

Helping the Ultra-Poor “Graduate”

If we insist that the poorest are a separate segment from the “not so poor,” we also believe it is crucial to identify the many disparities within this group.