by Amira Berrada - Trends/Challenges -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microsavings and Payments Innovation Initiative (MPII) of Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Accepting Expressions of Interest through May 4, 2012

The Microsavings and Payments Innovation Initiative, a research initiative created in 2010 by US-based nonprofit Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), has issued a call for expressions of interest for funding “to conduct rigorous, field-based research on savings products and services as well as payments and money transfer channels for the world’s poor and financially excluded” [1].

Topic areas for the expressions of interest include research preparation grants as well as small and large product tests. Expressions of interest may be submitted using the form available at http://www.poverty-action.org/microsavings/yaspr_fund/eoi2012. Selected expressions of interest will be subsequently invited to submit complete proposals. The deadline for submissions is May 4, 2012.

IPA’s purpose is to use randomized evaluations to research the impacts of development programs in microfinance, health, agriculture, education, charitable giving and community development. IPA, which disclosed approximately USD 25 million in income in 2010 is administered by Yale University of the US and funded by the US-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

By Amira Berrada, Research Associate

About Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a US-based nonprofit organization that uses randomized evaluations to research the impacts of development programs in microfinance, health, agriculture, education, charitable giving and community development. IPA also provides technical assistance to governments and non-government actors. Founded in 2002 as part of the US-based Financial Access Initiative (FAI), IPA is now an independent entity. As of 2012, IPA has approximately 300 projects completed or underway in 38 countries. The organization disclosed approximately USD 25 million in income for 2010.

About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Based in the US, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provides grants to organizations in approximately 100 countries with the aim of enhancing health care, reducing poverty and expanding access to education and information technology. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Financial Services for the Poor initiative focuses on providing people with secure places to save money. To support this initiative, the foundation works with financial organizations to increase access to technology (point-of-sale from sales devices, automated teller machines, etc.) and to forge partnerships among mobile phone companies, banks and microfinance institutions. It also supports the startup and growth of new banks in “difficult markets.” As of June 30, 2011, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation reported an endowment of USD 36.3 billion. In 2010, the foundation awarded USD 2.6 billion in grants.

Sources and Resources

[1] http://www.poverty-action.org/microsavings/yaspr_fund/eoi2012

MicroCapital.org article, July 17, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microsavings and Payments Innovation Initiative (MPII) Offering Research Grants on Savings Products, Payment Channels in Developing Countries https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-microsavings-and-payments…

MicroCapital.org article, December 10, 2010, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Pledges $500m to Expand Microsavings Over the Next 5 Years Including Grants To World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI), Vodacom Tanzania, ShoreBank International, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), World Bank and Yale University/Innovations for Poverty Action” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-bill-melinda-gates-founda…

MicroCapital.org article, September 8, 2009, “MICROCAPITAL PAPER WRAP-UP: Expanding Microenterprise Credit Access: Using Randomized Supply Decisions to Estimate the Impacts in Manila, Dean Karlan and Jonathan Zinman” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapitalorg-paper-wrap-up-expanding-micr…

MicroCapital Universe Profile for Innovations for Poverty Action: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Inn…

MicroCapital Universe Profile for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Bil…

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/

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Amira joined MicroCapital while working at Export Development Canada (EDC) as a Credit Insurance Underwriter. Amira holds a Bachelor degree in International Business and Finance from Concordia University in Montreal. While completing her bachelor degree, Amira spent a semester in France and upon graduation, three months in India working with non-governmental agencies, political and spiritual groups for various socioeconomic initiatives such as the advancement of women. While travelling to different cities and rural areas in India, Amira was touched by the poverty she witnessed and was dedicated to finding a way to intertwine her business interests with her passion for development. She hopes this internship in microfinance will provide the framework to integrate an element of development into her professional career as well as positively contribute to the field of microfinance. Amira speaks English, French, and Spanish fluently and has conversational knowledge in Portuguese and Arabic. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants such as molecular gastronomy, restaurants made out of ice and Nicaraguan meals wrapped in banana leaves. Most of all, she loves to travel with loved ones.