Institute for Money, Technology & Financial Inclusion

This conference write-up synthesizes two days of IMTFI researcher presentations through a series of 8 blogposts (titles listed in bold within conference program below) on the IMTFI Blog authored by Liz Losh. View  IMTFI's sixth cohort of awarded research projects 2014 and complete IMTFI Conference Schedule 2014.

#1 - Valuing Connection: The Interface between Tradition and Technology (12/10/2014)

Session 1: The Interface between Tradition and Technology - “Storing and Transferring Money in a Cash-Strapped Fishing Municipality in the Bicol Region” (Philippines) by Bernadette M. Gavino-Gumba, Ateneo de Naga University; “When the Dead Decide: An Investigation into the Influence of the Ancestors in the Decision to Use Mobile Technology in a Rural Community in Northern Ghana” (Ghana) by Francis Niagia Santuah, University for Development Studies and Martin Alichimah, Roots and Futures; “Mobile Money and the Coming of Age in Western Kenya” (Kenya) by Sibel Kusimba, American University

#2 - Ties That Break and Ties That Bind: Re-Imagining Money and Identity in Rural Contexts (12/10/2014)

Session 2: Re-Imagining Money and Identity in Rural Contexts - “Pastoral Adaptation to Market Opportunities and Changing Gender Roles Among Afar in Ethiopia: Aspects, Trends, and Prospects” (Ethiopia) by Uthman Hassen, Adama Science and Technology University; “Reimagining Rurality in Mobile Money Times: Life, Identity, and Community” (Uganda) by Prince Karakire Guma, Center for Basic Research; “Hand Held Wealth? Mobile Money and Food Production in Rural Potosi” (Bolivia) by Maria Isabel Balderrama , CIDES-UMSA and Oscar Gerdy Rocabado, CIDES-UMSA

#3 - Female Financial Literacy: Gender in Mobile Money and Financial Practices (12/11/2014)

Session 3: Gender in MM and Financial Practices -  “Mobile Money, Social Capital, and Financial Behavior of Women’s Cooperatives in Rural Nigeria” (Nigeria) by Onyima Jude Kenechi, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Onugu Charles Uchenna, Nnamdi Azikiwe University;  “Assessing the Impact of Financial Knowledge on Adoption of Mobile Payment Systems among Enterprise Owners in Dharavi, Mumbai” (India) by Mudita Tiwari, IFMR and Deepti KC, IFMR; “Women, Monetary Practices, and Technological Innovations” (Côte d'Ivoire) by Kone Nara Kanugui Idriss, ENSEA

#4 - What's Behind Door Number One? Experimentation and Innovation: Tools and Solutions for Specialized Populations (12/18/2014)

Session 4: Experimentation and Innovation: Tools and Solutions for Specialized Populations - “Risk Preferences, Time Preferences, and Willingness-to-Pay with Mobile Money versus Cash in Bangladesh” (Bangladesh) by Jonathan Morduch, NYU and Jean Lee, NYU; “The Formal Disguise: Financial Inclusion Among Flexible Workers and the Self-Employed” (Colombia) by Ana Echeverry, Inspira Lab and Coppelia Herran, Inspira Lab; “Mobile Money Financial Literacy via Television Comedy” (Cambodia) by Andrew Crawford, Monash University

#5 - Hurry Up and Wait: “G2P or G&P”: Governments, Payments, and Publics (1/2/2015)

Session 5: “G2P or G&P”: Governments, Payments, and Publics - “The Physical and Electronic Payment Interface and its Influence on Consumer Payment Choices and Informal/Fraudulent Practices: A Case Study of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Uganda” (Uganda) by Howard Tugume, Benda Associates Ltd; “Delivering Conditional Cash Transfers via Savings Accounts: Default and Mental Accounting Mechanisms” (Mexico) by Carlos Chiapa, El Colegio de México and Silva Prina, Case Western Reserve University; “The New Financial Architecture in Ecuador: Public Regulatory and Sociopolitical Contexts for Payment Systems” by Javier Felix, Renafipse and Monica Pozo, SENPLADES

#6 - Safe Passage: Making Money Mobile: Remittances and Transnational Financial Practices (1/3/2015)

Session 6: Making Money Mobile: Remittances and Transnational Financial Practices - “Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in Mali: What has been the Impact on Saving Practices?” (Mali) by Mariam Sangare, CESSMA; “Does Financial Inclusion Spur Overseas Filipinos to Invest? A Remittance Investment Climate (ReIC) Study in a Rural Hometown” (Philippines) by Jeremiah M. Opiniano, IMDI and Alvin P. Ang, Ateneo de Manila University’ “Juggling Currencies in Trans-Border Contexts: Mexico/US” (Mexico/US) by Magdalena Villareal, CIESAS Joshua Greene, CIESAS and Lya Niño, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California

#7 Moving Research Applications into Circulation: Putting Knowledge to Work (1/3/2015)

Session 7: Research Applications: Putting Knowledge to Work -  “Effectiveness and Challenges of Using Mobile Money Service in the Implementation of the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment Programme: A Case of Kiboga District in Uganda” (Uganda) by Julius Okello, AISRGD and Dorothy Massa, AISRGD; “Paying Conditional Cash Transfer Programs in Bank Accounts” (Mexico) by Enrique Seira, ITAM-QFD; The Use and Impact of M-Shwari as a Financial Banking Product in Urban and Rural Areas of Kenya” (Kenya) by Jane Mutinda, Kenyatta University and Ndunge Kitii, Houghton College

#8 - The Thirteenth Cow: Closing Conversations at the IMTFI Sixth Annual Conference (1/19/2015) Closing remarks: Scott Mainwaring, Taylor Nelms, Caroline Schuster, Mrinalini Tankha, Bill Maurer.