Digital Payments
Digital technology is transforming the way we respond to emergencies. Innovations range from how we identifying people eligible for assistance, to data collection for assessments and monitoring, to communication with crisis-affected communities. Digital payment systems, including mobile devices, electronic vouchers, and cards – when used appropriately – can deliver timelier, more secure, more cost effective, and inclusive assistance. But as the volume of data we collect, store and share about people grows, we must ensure that our data protection systems keep pace and that we understand and mitigate for the risks inherent in new technologies.
Featured Content
Podcast: Is informed consent possible in humanitarian CVA?
Podcast
Episode 2 of the CashCast tackles data responsibility with Amos Doornbos, Linda Raftree, James Eaton Lee and Ric Tighe
Consent and Ownership in the Shift to Digital Cash and Voucher Assistance
Blog Post
Part of committing to cash and voucher assistance (CVA) is committing to going digital and collecting data. While they are two different things, they are deeply intertwined. And while an...
Latest
Can E-Transfers Promote Financial Inclusion in Emergencies: A Case Study from Zimbabwe
Case Study
The Electronic Cash Transfer Learning Action Network (ELAN) launched research to build an evidence base around connecting emergency electronic transfer (e-transfer) recipients with additional financial services. They wanted to learn if, when, and how e-transfers can promote sustained uptake and use...
Doing Digital Finance Right: The case for stronger mitigation of customer risks
Policy paper
Low-income consumers stand to benefit greatly from more accessible and affordable digital financial services (DFS) offerings. Indeed, evidence from consumer research in 16 markets analyzed for this paper indicates that customers highly value and benefit from many basic DFS. However, many users are not...
Digital Finance for Development: A Handbook for USAID Staff
Guidelines and Tools
This handbook is designed to enable USAID personnel to maximize the Agency’s use of and contribution to the growth of digital financial services in emerging markets around the world. As an Agency, USAID brings significant comparative advantages to the collective effort required to build out financial...
Nepal Earthquake Response: Lessons for operational agencies
Policy paper
In the aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, this paper looks at lessons drawn from previous comparable disasters and seeks to provide invaluable information and assistance to the operational agencies responding to the crisis. Seventeen Lessons give an overview of important learnings based on...
2015 State of the Industry Report. Mobile Money
Report
Mobile money is reaching more than 411 million people globally. Moreover, it is available in 85% of countries where the vast majority of the population lacks access to a formal financial institution. This is an extraordinary achievement, demonstrating the power of mobile, underpinned by the critical...
State of the Use of Mobile Technologies for Disaster Preparedness in South East Asia
Report
This report summarizes the study conducted by Nanyang Technology University (NTU) in collaboration with the Global Disaster Preparedness Center with support from the USAID-Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to better understand how new communication and information sharing technologies can enhance risk...
Seeking Solutions: New roles for technology in cash and voucher programs – An inspiration brief for technology and private sector partners
Policy paper
Today, more people have been forced to flee their homes than at the height of World War II. The scale of these humanitarian crises are challenging, and sometimes outpacing, the capacity of institutions created to respond to them. Yet, the approaches we have available to reach populations in need have also...
Using Innovation And New Technologies to Improve Cash Transfer Programming (CTP)
Report
Experience and studies show that providing cash transfers to disaster-affected families empowers them to meet their diverse needs, provides a stimulus to the recovery of the local economy and is a cost effective way to deliver humanitarian assistance. The IFRC is committed to providing multi-sectoral...
Financial Services Primer for Humanitarians
Guidelines and Tools
Financial services facilitate a wide range of economic and households activities in any society. They enable trade and business expansion and allow individuals to save, send and borrow money. Humanitarian cash transfers, particularly when delivered electronically,can expand access to financial services...
Mobile Money Bulk Payment Products: Capturing the market opportunity of global development organizations
Presentation
International relief and development organizations (DOs) receive significant aid funding from donors, which they regularly disburse in high volume, low value payments to millions of recipients for program and operational expenses. DOs and donors are increasingly using and promoting the use of new digital...