Insights
Announcing “Hey Sister! Show Me the Mobile Money!’
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the need to go cashless while observing social distancing restrictions, SIA, with funding from USAID and the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, has launched a digital financial literacy campaign to increase women’s ability to access and use mobile money services.
Challenging the myths around women’s financial inclusion
Earlier this month, we joined FinEquity and Women’s World Banking for a webinar exploring common myths around women’s digital financial inclusion. Hosted as part of CFI’s Financial Inclusion Week, this discussion tested assumptions, highlighted the contextual differences and nuances that exist across half of the world’s population, and considered the perils of stereotyping this population when it comes to access and use of financial services.
Making mobile phones affordable in Malawi
Cell phone ownership is by no means universal around the world, so it is crucial we find ways to make phones more affordable. In our line of work — digital development — we are pretty much out of luck if the populations we are trying to reach don’t have access to a phone.
Ghana introduces new financial inclusion policies, catalyst for growth
As the world continues to grapple with the deadly coronavirus and slowly rounds the bend to post-pandemic days, it will behoove governments, regulatory agencies, and other sectoral players to drive the rapid digitization of their economies. This calls for actionable policies and regulatory frameworks, backed by dedication and pragmatic follow-through on implementation each step of the way.
Lighting up digital economies with clean energy
Technology advances are bringing prices down, for both off-grid solar and mobile phones, but the cost of purchase continues to keep these products out of reach for many. That is why enabling the financing of these purchases through expansion of DFS is more important than ever.
Reaching learners remotely: 5 things we learned in getting started with IVR
SIA has spent the past month seeking ways to use interactive voice recall technology to deliver digital financial service training to rural learners. This blog is a quick reflection on our adventure into pandemic-fueled IVR mania, and some lessons we learned that I wish I had known before we started.
What COVID-19 impacts on DFS are here to stay?
Everyone in the DFS realm is thinking about what COVID-19 means for digital ecosystems — today and in the long term. This week, we were pleased to organize and participate in a breakout session for the Global Digital Development Forum. Our compliments to TechChange, USAID, and all of the conference sponsors for pulling off a successful first virtual 16-hour global conference!
Operating at intersections of digital transformation & commerce during COVID-19
Operating at the intersection of digital transformation has become a deal breaker for many organizations trying to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, both in commercial and development spaces.