Mobile microfinance for social development

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Mobile microfinance for social development
mobile microfinance
Workshop on the Role of Mobile Technologies in
Fostering Social Development June 2-3 2008, Sao
Paulo, Brazil

• Workshop on the Role of Mobile Technologies in
  Fostering Social Development

Organized by the
June 2-3 2008, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Raphaël Dard, ICT for Trade Development
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Mobile phones for business
An International Trade Centre service
tradeathand
marketPrices
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Mobile phones for business
An International Trade Centre service
tradeathand
marketAlerts
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Microfinance and its strengths

• Access to credit, savings, funds transfer and
  even insurance
• Loans a critical entrepreneurship-enabling
  factor
• Microfinance is a strong poverty reduction tool
• Can help businesses to move from informal to
  formal economy
• About 120 million people have access to
  microfinance today

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World penetration growth of mobile phones
source wireless intelligence/GSMA
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User number evolution, in Africa 1998 - 2006
Million users
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Linking urban and rural areas
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M-banking pioneers
Source CGAP 2008
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Why m-microfinance has a huge potential for
social development?

• Mobiles allow substantial transaction cost
  reduction

• Cost-efficient financial services open huge
  opportunities

• Reach many so-called unbanked

• Financial services boost entrepreneurship

• Entrepreneurship is key for social development

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Challenges ahead

• Raise awareness on the potential, at government
  level
• Collect/disseminate best practices and models to
  avoid
• Propose facilitating measures and regulations
• Provide revenue-sharing schemes that benefit All
• Ensure a gradual and constant progress towards a
  global mobile-based financial network for
  developing economies

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The need for a dedicated and concerned group
Ready to address collectively the challenges, and

• A forum where all stakeholders are represented
• A body that voices concerns and recommendations
• A body that has influence at a high level
• A body that can act according to recommendations

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Thank you for your attention
Raphaël Dard
dard_at_intracen.org