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CGAP Experiments With
Human-Centered Design
The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) worked with design firms and financial service providers in several countries to explore the potential of “human-centered design” (HCD) to inform the design of digital financial products and user experiences that work for people at the base of the pyramid. Participants include MTN and Grameen Foundation in Uganda; Bancomer, TIGO Cash and IDEO.org in Mexico and Ghana; Bradesco and IDEO in Brazil; Habib Bank, Microensure and Continuum in Pakistan, Kenya and Malawi; and BTPN Bank, Frog Design and Dalberg in Indonesia. CGAP found that results of HCD can help to bring the customer’s voice into the “boardroom” and can be transformative for institutions.
Coming Attraction:
Financial Inclusion and Aging
CFI and HelpAge International, supported by MetLife Foundation, are preparing to provoke a much-needed conversation on aging and financial inclusion. A draft issue paper demonstrates that most people in developing countries piece together several sources of income in later life and spotlights the financial services needed to support each strategy. A debate looms on how publicly provided pensions can co-exist with private savings and self-employment to support these multiple survival strategies. One focus for action is the need to rethink age caps that often prevent older people from borrowing. The issue paper will be refined and discussed during roundtables in Bogota, Colombia and New York City.
Airtel Uganda, Grameen Foundation, and Plan Uganda launched a mobile wallet product this year aimed at women members of village savings and loan associations. Acknowledging that savings in cash is risky and that bank branches are located too far away, the partners introduced a group account featuring a 3-PIN system that requires approval from three group members for fund withdrawals. The product helps women keep their savings safely and makes their transaction history visible to financial institutions, which could help in opening their access to credit or insurance.
Airtel Weza
CFI and Accion, with knowledge partner v-shesh and MFI implementation partners – Annapurna, Equitas, and ESAF – have been working on the financial inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) in India. This working group created tools and an operating model for MFIs to incorporate PWD as staff and clients. The recommendations, including policy changes in non-discrimination and other areas, are being piloted. Disability awareness trainings have been conducted for over 100 MFI staff across the country. Over the next months these staff will train another 6,000 frontline MFI staff. On August 14, NCPEDP, a national disability organization, recognized CFI and its disability inclusion working group members with a Universal Design Award for contributing innovative work on financial inclusion through microfinance for this population segment.
Access to Finance for
Persons With Disabilities
CGAP, IDEO.org, and TigoCash human-centered design project in Ghana.