MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Value of Pay-as-you-go Solar for Mobile Operators: Insights from Customer Journeys in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire,” Published by GSMA

This analysis of data from Benin and Côte d’Ivoire addressed “the impact of mobile consumers adopting pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar on their mobile usage.” Based on 120 interviews with end-users of PAYG technologies, the authors found that access to energy via solar home systems resulted in:

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “COVID-19: Accelerating the Use of Digital Agriculture;” by Leslie Arathoon, Rishi Raithatha, Daniele Tricarico; Published by GSMA

This report offers a review of prior findings on trends and best practices in “digital agriculture” services provided by mobile network operators (MNOs) and dedicated agricultural technology (agritech) companies. Digital agriculture can include a range of online tools for facilitating the usage of various types of information at any point along

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Digital Lives of Refugees: How Displaced Populations Use Mobile Phones and What Gets in the Way,” Published by GSMA

This is a summary of a paper published by the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), July 2019, 87 pages, available at https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Digital-Lives-of-Refugees.pdf

Mobile technology in general, as well as mobile network operators in particular, are becoming increasingly important to the delivery of aid to populations in crisis. This report addresses the access to, use of, and barriers to mobile technology among refugee populations.

The authors conducted 3,000 face-to-face and telephone interviews as well 55 focus group discussions with refugees from Jordan, Rwanda and

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP UP: “Mobile-Enabled Economic Identities for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana;” By Nicholas Wasunna, Willie Gichora Ngumi; Published by GSMA

This is a summary of a paper by Nicholas Wasunna and Willie Gichora Ngumi, published by GSMA (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association), March 2019, 32 pages, available at: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Mobile-enabled-economic-identities-for-smallholder-farmers-in-Ghana.pdf

The authors report that 20 percent of the 1.7 billion adults worldwide who do not use banking services cannot open a financial account because they lack documents to prove their identity (ID). This lack of documentation limits access to financial as well as

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP UP: “Beyond the Basics: How Smartphones Will Drive Future Opportunities for the Mobile Money Industry;” by Belinda Baah, Nika Naghavi; published by GSMA

This is a summary of a paper written by Belinda Baah and Nika Naghavi, published by Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), 2018, 16 pages, available at: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2017-SOTIR-deep-dive-How-smartphones-will-drive-future-opportunities.pdf

This paper is divided into two sections; “Digital Inclusion in Emerging Markets: The Evolution of Mobile Internet and Smartphone Access” and “Smartphones and Apps: How the Mobile Money Industry has Responded.” The first section

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) Mobile 360 Series; July 17 – 19, 2018; Kigali, Rwanda

The theme of this event, “Who will lead the digital revolution: the people or the technology?”, will drive discussions about the mobile industry in Africa, exploring topics such as big data, youth entrepreneurship,

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Orange, Safaricom, Telenor, Tigo, Vodacom Earn First GSMA Mobile Money Certifications for Security, Consumer Protection in Africa, Pakistan

Based on assessments conducted by Italy-based MicroFinanza Rating, five organizations in Africa and Pakistan have earned the first GSMA Mobile Money Certifications, verifying their ability “to deliver secure and reliable services, to protect the rights of consumers and to

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: GSMA Facilitates Launch of Interoperable Mobile Money Services in Madagascar

The Groupe Special Mobile Association (GSMA), a membership organization of 800 telecoms operating under the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, recently announced that all of the mobile operators present in Madagascar- Airtel Money, mVola and Orange Money- will make their services interoperable across the country.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: GSMA Launching “Connected Women Commitment” to Extend Mobile Money, Internet Usage Among Women

The GSM Association (GSMA), a coordinating group for telecoms operating under the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, recently announced that it and its members are launching the “Connected Women Commitment” with the goal of lessening the “mobile gender gap” [1].

MICROFINANCE EVENT: GSMA Mobile World Congress, March 2-5, 2015; Barcelona, Spain

Event Name: 2015 GSMA Mobile World Congress

Event Date: March 2 – March 5, 2015

Event Location: Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain

Cost: Prices range from EUR 740 (USD 901) to EUR 4,999 (USD 6,090) depending on the type of pass purchased. Discounts are available for members of the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association. Additional information related to costs and fees may be found at: http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/attend/register/passes-prices/.

Summary of Event: This conference features keynote speakers representing various mobile operators, device manufacturers and vendors from around the world. Depending on the type of pass selected, attendees can partake in different panel discussions and exhibitions to discuss and explore trends in mobile technology.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Global Systems for Mobile Association (GSMA) Launches Code of Conduct for Mobile Money Providers

The Global Systems for Mobile Association (GSMA), a UK-based association of 1,000 mobile operators and associated companies, recently launched a “Code of Conduct for Mobile Money Providers” to provide guidance on best practices for its members.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Receives Innovation Grant from GSMA’s mWomen

The Global Systems for Mobile Association (GSMA), a London-based association of 1,000 mobile operators and associated companies, recently announced that its mWomen programme has awarded the Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization, its Innovation Fund grant of an undisclosed amount.

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Unlocking the Potential: Women and Mobile Financial Services in Emerging Markets;” published by mWomen Global Development Alliance of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Visa, Bankable Frontier Associates

Published by Global System for Mobile Communications Association’s mWomen Global Development Alliance, Visa and Bankable Frontier Associates; 2013; 40 pages; available at: http://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/GSMA-mWomen-Visa_Unlocking-the-Potential_Feb-2013.pdf

This report analyzes connections between mobile financial services and women’s financial inclusion in the developing world.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), Andean Development Corporation (CAF), Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Call for Proposals for “Technologies for Financial Inclusion Program”

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a US-based multilateral finance institution that operates in Latin America and the Caribbean; Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), an autonomous fund administered by IDB; Andean Development Corporation (CAF, in Spanish), a multilateral financial institution based in Venezuela; and Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), an organization representing approximately 750 cell phone operators, have issued a call for proposals as part of the launch of the second Technologies for Financial Inclusion Program [1].

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) Hosts the 2010 Mobile Money Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 24 – May 27, 2010

Event Name: 2010 Mobile Money Summit

Event Date: May 24 – May 27, 2010

Event Location: InterContinental Rio Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Event Website: http://www.mobilemoneysummit.com/index.shtml

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Mobile Money Summit 2009 in Spain Hosted by Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), Department for International Development (DFID), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA)

MOBILE MONEY SUMMIT 2009

22-25 JUNE 2009, Fira Montjuï, BARCELONA, SPAIN

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Gates Grants $12.5m to Mobile Phone Association GSMA for Mobile Banking

The GSM Association (GSMA), an organization representing more than 750 of the world’s cell phone operators, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced the Mobile Money for the Unbanked program (MMU), that will expand the availability of financial services to people in the developing world through the use of mobile phones. Supported by a 12.5 million USD grant from the Gates Foundation, the program will work with mobile operators, banks, microfinance institutions, governments, and development organizations to expand reliable, affordable, mobile financial services to the unbanked. The services would allow people to set aside a small amount of savings in a safe place to guard against risks, build assets, and provide opportunities for the next generation.