by Chikondano Faith Chisala - Africa -

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. The grant will be used to finance a market research study and to develop a plan to expand its “Mobile Midwife” service to Nigeria, in an effort to reduce the rates of maternal and infant mortality there. The Mobile Midwife service, which is currently available in Ghana, enables pregnant women to access information about their pregnancy via their mobile phones. The mWomen Programme works with various organizations to promote and develop mobile services that aim to address the gender gap in access to and use of mobile technology in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East through efforts including funding, events and knowledge sharing. These technologies assist resource-poor women to access health services and information, education, banking services and tools for managing businesses. The mWomen programme was established by GMSA in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a government agency; the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), an agency of the federal government of Australia; and Visa, a US-based payments technology company.

As of 2014, GSMA’s members include approximately 800 mobile operators and approximately 200 software, mobile, technology, media and entertainment organizations.  As of March 31, 2013, the Grameen Foundation reported total assets of USD 19.2 million.

By Chikondano Faith Chisala, Research Associate

About Global Systems for Mobile Association (GSMA): Global Systems for Mobile Association (GSMA) is a London-based association of mobile operators and related companies that support the regulation, distribution and promotion of mobile telecommunication systems across the financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utility sectors around the world. As of 2014, GSMA’s members include approximately 800 mobile operators and approximately 200 software, mobile, technology, media and entertainment organizations.

About the Grameen Foundation: The Grameen Foundation, a nonprofit based in the US city of Washington, provides financial, technological and managerial support to provide new business opportunities and telecommunication services for poor people in rural areas. Though it is independent of the Grameen Bank, Dr Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank, serves on the foundation’s Board of Directors. Grameen Foundation reported total assets of USD 19.2 million as of March 31, 2013.

Sources and Additional Resources

Global Systems for Mobile Association (GSMA), Mobile for Development, “GSMA mWomen Awards Innovation Fund Grant to Grameen Foundation,” http://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/gsma-mwomen-awards-innovation-fund-grant-to-grameen-foundation?utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=mwomen170214&utm_source=twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social%2Bmedia&utm_campaign=GSMAm4d

MicroCapital, August 7, 2013, “Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Foundation, Grameen Bank, Brazil Foods (BRF) to Invest in Small Businesses, Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Haiti,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-muhammad-yunus-grameen-foundation-grameen-bank-brazil-foods-brf-to-invest-in-small-businesses-genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-in-haiti/

MicroCapital, April 15, 2013, “CGAP, Grameen Foundation, Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Uganda to Finance $1m Mobile Finance Product Research and Development Initiative,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-cgap-grameen-foundation-mobile-telecommunications-network-mtn-uganda-to-finance-1m-mobile-finance-product-research-and-development-initiative/

MicroCapital, March 13, 2013,  “Unlocking the Potential: Women and Mobile Financial Services in Emerging Markets,” https://www.microcapital.org/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/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Grameen Foundation, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Grameen+Foundation

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Global Systems for Mobile Association, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Global+Systems+for+Mobile+Association+%28GSMA%29

Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at https://www.microcapital.org/products-page/

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Chikondano Faith joined MicroCapital after holding various rolse at a commercial bank, where she improved and diversified her skill set by exploring many banking functions including: trading, treasury management, credit analysis and business development. She developed an interest challenges faced by entrepreneurs in emerging economies after taking up a small business development and entrepreneurship course during her undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa. She holds also Masters degree in Strategic Management from the University of Derby, her independent study topic focused on strategies to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malawi. In working with MicroCapital, she hopes to expand her knowledge of microfinance and to use this internship as a foundation to pursue a career in micro and developmental finance. Chikondano Faith enjoys travel, drawing, jazz music, and improving her French during her spare time.