IFAP Information Society Observatory

Title: CGAP releases pricing tool for mobile banking for the unbanked
Author: Claudia McKay
Publisher: CGAP: Consultative Group to Assist the Poor
Date (published): 16/06/2010
Date (accessed): 18/06/201
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
A few weeks ago, CGAP released a study comparing the prices of 16 branchless banking pioneers and 10 traditional banks across eight use cases. We found that the average monthly cost of using a branchless banking service is $3.90 (PPP adjusted) compared with US$4.80 when using a traditional bank. The conclusion: branchless banking is cheaper than traditional banking, but the gap is not as wide as some may think.

Title: Who's got the phone? Gender and the use of the telephone at the bottom of the pyramid
Authors: Ayesha Zainudeen, Tahani Iqbal, and Rohan Samarajiva
Pages: 37 pp.
Source: LIRNEasia
Date (published): 15/06/2010
Date (accessed): 17/06/2010
Type of information: research paper, pre-publication draft
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Much has been said about women’s access to and use of the telephone. Many studies conclude that a significant gender divide in access exists particularly in developing countries. Women are also said to use telephones in a different manner from men – making and receiving more calls, spending more time on calls, and using telephones primarily for ‘relationship maintenance’ purposes, in contrast to men. However, much of this research on usage patterns is based on small-sample studies in affluent developed countries. The article provides evidence that a significant gender divide in access to telephones exists in Pakistan and India, to a lesser extent in Sri Lanka, but is generally absent in the Philippines and Thailand. This article also challenges some of the findings of studies which claim that women’s and men’s use is fundamentally different, shedding light on women’s access to and use of telecom services at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) in five Emerging Asian markets.

Title: Towards Information Society - National e-Strategies in the Arab World
Author: David Morgan
Source: www.yacout.info
Date (published): 07/06/2010
Date (accessed): 17/06/2010
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The report, National e-Strategies for Development Global Status and Perspectives 2010, highlights the varying stages of development in the adoption of ICT across the Arab World.

The report is published within the framework of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the WSIS’s Tunis phase and the adoption of the Tunis Agenda for Information Society.

Focusing on progress towards the achievement of an inclusive digital society, the report points out that while some Arab countries have already taken measures to facilitate the transformation of their societies others are just taking the initial steps or are still facing basic challenges posed by insufficient ICT infrastructure.

Nevertheless, almost all Arab countries or territories are fulfilling the WSIS recommendations concerning the formulation of ICT strategies, having either developed such a strategy or being ready to adopt existing drafts.

Title: Some Comments on ICT4Development and Internet Governance
Author: Michael Gurstein
Source: Gurstein's Community Informatics
Date (published): 15/06/2010
Date (accessed): 16/06/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
My comments on the panel came at the end of a series of very interesting and stimulating presentations by colleagues from primarily Hong Kong and Singapore on their State level responses to the Digial Divide in their jurisdictions which in fact were attempting to find strategies for engaging the final 20% or so of their populations who were not currently making effective use of the Internet.

In my comments I attempted to link the issues presented earlier in the panel discussion with the broader issues of going beyond the matter of “simple access” to achieve effective use of ICTs as a support for broader economic and social development in countries where the level of current Internet access/use is a small fraction of that achieved in HK and Singapore–this was following a quite moving presentation earlier in the day by a senior Bangladeshi politician on his country where current Internet access/use is in the low single digits.

Title: Unveiling the Links between ICTs & Climate Change in Developing Countries: A Scoping Study
Authors: Angelica Valeria Ospina & Richard Heeks
Pages: 59 pp.
Publisher: Centre for Development Informatics, Institute for Development Policy and Management, SED, University of Manchester
Date (published): 26/04/2010
Date (accessed): 14/06/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This document responds to the need to explore further the links between ICTs, climate change and development, as these fields become increasingly interlocked due to the magnifying effect of climate change on existing development challenges and vulnerabilities.

This scoping study targets an audience of development strategists and practitioners – working on ICTs-for-development (ICT4D), on climate change, on disaster response, and other focal areas – interested in gaining a better understanding of the current trends and perspectives in ICTs-and- climate change research, with a focus on developing countries. It seeks to raise awareness on the potential and challenges associated with the use of these tools from a developing country perspective. And it seeks to identify emerging issues and research gaps that require further academic analysis and/or multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Title: Linking ICTs and Climate Change Adaptation: A Conceptual Framework for e­Resilience and e­Adaptation
Authors: Angelica Valeria Ospina & Richard Heeks
Pages: 41 pp.
Publisher: Centre for Development Informatics, Institute for Development Policy and Management, SED, University of Manchester
Date (published): 13/06/2010
Date (accessed): 15/06/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"...a review of available literature in the field of ICTs, climate change and development (Ospina and Heeks, 2010) suggests that adaptation remains one of the least explored areas for analysis of ICTs’ potential in the global South.
Recognising the close links that exist between climate change vulnerability and the achievement of development outcomes, alongside the increasing use of ICTs within developing contexts, the aim of this paper is to set out a conceptual foundation that links climate change, livelihoods vulnerability, and the potential of ICTs in supporting systemic resilience. ICTs will be introduced as a system component that has the potential of contributing towards resilience and, therefore, helping to enable livelihood strategies that allow adaptation; that is recovery and adjustment in the face of climate change."

via http://twitter.com/CDIManchester

Title: Kenya’s agriculture minister opens Africa Agriculture Geospatial Week
Author: Nadia Manning-Thomas
Source: ICT-KM
Publisher: CGIAR
Date (published): 11/06/2010
Date (accessed): 15/06/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Kenya’s agriculture minister opens Africa Agriculture Geospatial Week and calls for efforts to take geospatial information to the ‘last mile’

While addressing the 2nd Africa Agriculture Geospatial Week (AAGW) that opened this week at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Nairobi; Kenya’s Minister for Agriculture, Hon Dr Sally Kosgei, challenged researchers and GIS practitioners to ‘discuss steps towards the development of delivery mechanisms for making geospatial information accessible to poor smallholders in the villages across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Title: The Innovative Use of Mobile Applications in East Africa
Author: Johan Hellström
Pages: 104 pp.
ISBN: 978-91-586-4129-7
Publisher: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida
Date (published): 03/06/2010
Date (accessed): 15/06/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This report gives an overview of the current state of mobile phone use and services in East Africa. It outlines major trends and main obstacles for increased use as well as key opportunities and potential for scaling-up mobile applications. The report draws on secondary data and statistics as well as field work carried out in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya during 2008 and 2009.
The report identifies relevant applications in an East African context for reaching and empowering the poor and contribute to social and economic development. The identified mobile applications, listed in Appendix 2, range from small pilots to scaled-up initiatives – from simple agricultural, market or health information services to fairly advanced financial and government transaction services.

Title: The Economics of Copyright and Digitisation: A Report on the Literature and the Need for Further Research
Author: Christian Handke
Pages: 103 pp.
Publisher: Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Policy (SABIP)
Date (published): 03/06/2010
Date (accessed): 14/06/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Policy (SABIP) has commissioned this report in order to inform its research agenda. The report undertakes a critical overview of the theoretical and empirical economic literature on copyright and unauthorised copying. On the basis of this literature, this report also identifies the salient issues for copyright policy in the process of digitisation, and formulates specific research questions that should be addressed to inform copyright policy.
Economists’ theoretical work on copyright has generated a general framework in which to study the effects of copyright on social welfare. The literature identifies a number of costs and benefits associated with copyright. Digitisation is likely to affect the balance struck by existing copyright arrangements and empirical research is needed to capture the implications for the desirable level of copyright protection. So far, empirical studies provide partial answers at best but they may provide useful templates for further research. Progress seems possible, especially if better data becomes available.

This report highlights two issues which are in particular need of further research in order to inform copyright policy:
1. How does digital copying affect the supply of copyright works?
2. Does the copyright system entail obstacles to desirable aspects of technological transition?

Title: Bridges to Cash: the retail end of M-PESA : The challenge of maintaining liquidity for M-PESA Agent Networks
Authors: Frederik Eijkman, Jake Kendall, and Ignacio Mas
Pages: 20 pp.
Source: www.microfinancegateway.org
Date (published): 29/04/2010
Date (accessed): 14/06/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
M-PESA (“M” for mobile and “PESA” for money in Swahili) is a mobile money service promoted by Safaricom, the leading mobile operator in Kenya. The service provides a method of electronic payment accessible through mobile phones. Once customers deposit cash in their M-PESA accounts, they store the value as “e-float” – a form of electronic value issued by Safaricom – until they are ready to use it for transfers, buying airtime, or bill payments.
“De-materializing” cash into e-float offers benefits in terms of safety (reduced risk of theft or loss), convenience (less bulk, easier to send money remotely, lower transport costs, can purchase airtime and pay bills from the phone), and privacy. The core value proposition to customers is that M-PESA allows them to send money quickly and cheaply to distant business associates, friends, or relatives, a common need in Kenya where many families have some members working in urban areas.2
By solving this customer need, M-PESA has generated a large and loyal customer base. M-PESA is used by over 40% of Kenyan adults3 and more than 95% of users report that M-PESA is faster, safer, cheaper, or more convenient than alternative services like those provided by banks, ATMs, the post office, or money transfer services offered through bus companies.4 A full 84% of users claim that losing the service of M-PESA would have a large, negative effect on their lives.
The ability to quickly and conveniently withdraw cash or deposit cash is critical to achieving the high level of value that M-PESA delivers to its users. To access their accounts, customers exchange cash for e- float at a network of M-PESA retail stores (often referred to as sub-agents or agent points). There are some 16,000 agent points in Kenya, putting one within reach of most Kenyans. In fact many locations have multiple M-PESA agent points within a few hundred meters of each other. Keeping these agent points stocked with cash and e-float so that they can meet customers’ needs for deposits and withdrawals is a major challenge, and the subject of this article.