Blog

Axel Leblois discusses how the latest accessibility standards and innovations in mobile technologies may be leveraged to solve accessibility issues.

Maria Stephens reviews the role of various stakeholders involved in deploying accessible mobile solutions for persons with disabilities.

Meet two participants of Trickle Up’s USAID-funded Microenterprise Program for People with Disabilities in Guatemala: Astrid Yesenia Ben Ramirez and Diego Ramírez Xicay.

This summary covers three main points: the recent strategy refresh of the FSP team, the findings of research on Domestic Remittances in 11 African Countries, and how policy makers and market players might use these findings.

In advance of the June Note From the Field on the state of microfinance in Iraq from USAID-Tijara, Microlinks is featuring a series of videos from the program to give you an inside look at the progress on the ground. The USAID Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Program is a five-year initiative to promote economic growth and employment in Iraq by increasing private sector access to finance, in particular for micro, small and medium enterprises.

Human System Dynamics uses metaphors from the physical, mathematical, and computer sciences to help change agents understand what is happening in dynamic interactions and is used as a “meta model” for working with complex systems.

Maria Stephens of USAID and Dr. Vivian Dzokoto of Virginia Commonwealth University share their key takeaways from the EPS Seminar #6, "Barriers to Mobile Money Transfer Uptake in Ghana." In this video, the two presenters discuss the cultural underpinnings of emerging payment systems uptake and considerations for public-private partnerships in the development of financial services.

Key takeaways from the Ultra-Poor Symposium included the need to generate better data on the ultra poor and to design cost-effective programs that reach a larger number of ultra-poor people around the world.

By promoting competitive processes that inject funds directly into the hands of small entrepreneurs, IFAD’s Rural Microenterprise Assets Programme is funding innovation, peace and sustainable development in the Colombian countryside.

A recent study investigated the cultural perceptions in Ghana of mobile money; identified its successes and barriers to its adoption; and verified its impact on Ghana’s urban poor.

Building on a deeper understanding of the idiosyncrasies that characterize extreme poverty, organizations have developed promising interventions that incorporate “push” and “pull” strategies.

In this video, the two presenters discuss multi-disciplinary and proven economic strengthening interventions that address livelihood, social capital, and social inclusion challenges for the ultra-poor.

The iterative process (Idea > Design > Prototype > Test/Experiment > Learn/Adapt) is used to learn (about, from, and with market actors) and develop rapid solution prototypes so that one “fails quickly” and “fails small.”

Despite the number of people living in extreme poverty declining by more than 100 million between 2005 and 2008, those who receive the least attention and support are the ultrapoor.

Trickle Up's blog addresses how African participants in savings groups build solidarity amongst each another.

Curtis Hundley of DAI discusses strategies for improving the competitiveness of enterprises, promoting a healthy business enabling environment, and facilitating public-private partnerships from DAI's MSME Project in Cambodia.

During the past seven years, the Cambodia MSME Project has effectively changed the governing and business cultures from distrust to partnership and cooperation.

Panelists at the USAID Learning Event, "Meeting the Challenges of Value Chain Development," share their reflections on the impacts of USAID's Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project on the field of value chain development.

During USAID’s Microlinks After Hours Seminar, Geoffrey Chalmers from ACDI/VOCA and Jason Agar from Kadale Consultants Limited discussed various challenges financial services in the rural and agricultural sectors as well as innovations.

In this video, Geoffrey Chalmers discusses an integrated framework to understand rural and agricultural finance from the value chain, household, and non-farm enterprise perspectives.

Caren Grown, Senior Gender Advisor in USAID's Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning is interviewed by Ruth Campbell, Managing Director at ACDI/VOCA, on why social dimensions matter for value chain development programs.

In this video, Maria Stephens of USAID introduces the Emerging Payment Systems Seminar Series.

Geoff Chalmers interviews Greta Greathouse about her presentation during the session, "Value Chain Financing" session at the USAID Learning Event, "Meeting the Challenges of Value Chain Development" on February 7-8, 2012.

Benjamin Herzberg and William Kedrock report about their session, "Creating an Enabling Environment," from the February 7-8, 2012 USAID Learning Event, "Meeting the Challenges of Value Chain Development."

Jennefer Sebstad, Marian Boquiren, and Lindsey Jones report about their session, "Understanding Gender and Culture in Market Systems," from the February 7-8, 2012 USAID Learning Event, "Meeting the Challenges of Value Chain Development."