Blog

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."

Elizabeth Dunn and Don Snodgrass report about their session, "Learning and Evaluating Within Dynamic Systems," from the February 7-8, 2012 USAID Learning Event, "Meeting the Challenges of Value Chain Development."

Bryanna Millis and Ron Greenberg report about their session, "Creating an Enabling Environment," from the February 7-8, 2012 USAID Learning Event, "Meeting the Challenges of Value Chain Development."

This article summarized the main arguments both for and against the further push to implement mobile technologies for poverty reduction.

To say the debate between Milford Bateman and David Roodman was contentious would be an understatement. Those of us from the Center for Financial Inclusion who attended the debate have been all a-buzz ever since.

David Roodman, of the Center for Global Development, reacts to the recent debate "Moving Financial Inclusion Beyond Microfinance."

SEEP published a paper that highlights key themes important to industry leaders and will help form the learning agenda for a initiative called STEP UP: Strengthening The Economic Potential of the Ultra Poor.