The purpose of this project was to author a resource for humanitarian practitioners that explains the key concepts in mobile money and helps them understand under which circumstances it will be an appropriate delivery system for cash and voucher assistance (CVA). Insights are drawn from GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) research done for the mobile money CVA handbook, and the humanitarian cash transfers landscaping projects.
The publication helps humanitarian practitioners understand the infrastructure needed for mobile money, the regulations which govern it, and the competitive advantages it has in humanitarian contexts. However, it also points out that mobile money systems are not used by the vulnerable populations CVA targets, and rarely extend to rural or remote locations where settlements or refugee camps are situated.
Therefore, using digital payments systems like mobile money will involve a close partnership with the provider to customize their systems to the humanitarian context, and beneficiaries will need significant training on how to use it. A framework is provided for evaluating how conducive an ecosystem is to implementing mobile money, based on available connectivity, financial infrastructure, and the registration and usage of financial systems.
For more information, find the publication here: Mobile Money Enabled Cash Aid Delivery: Essential considerations for humanitarian practitioners