NGO gets USAID, NetHope grant to evaluate mobile-banking platform
08 Jan 2014 Written by Ramon Efren R. Lazaro and Marvyn N. Benaning /
Correspondents
THE Alalay Sa Kaunlaran Inc. (Aski), a non-governmental organization
(NGO) specializing in microfinance and based in Nueva Ecija, was chosen
as one of the organizations to receive a grant from the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) and NetHope on the
Electronic and Mobile Payment Implementation and Evaluation Grants Program.
The initiative from USAID and NetHope is aimed at supporting leading
development organizations committed to testing electronic payments,
compare and document the costs, challenges and benefits of using cash
versus electronic payments.
A grant of $42,000 will be awarded by USAID and NetHope to the selected
organizations to demonstrate the potential uses of electronic payments
in relief and development programs, provide insights into procedures for
making this transition, and encourage the adoption of electronic
payments by other implementing partners.
USAID is the principal US federal government agency primarily
responsible for administering civilian foreign aid, providing economic,
development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of
the foreign policy goals of the United States, while NetHope Inc. is a
consortium of 41 leading international humanitarian organizations
founded in 2001 that is a new-generation collaboration of the
international community's leading NGOs representing over $40 billion of
emergency relief, human development and conservation programs in more
than 180 countries.
Besides Aski, the only organization in Southeast Asia to receive and
implement the said project, other recipients were Concern Worldwide in
Malawi and Mennonite Economic Development Associates in Tanzania.
Aski will use the grant to evaluate mobile banking platform implemented
in partnership with BPI Globe BanKo, the Philippine's first mobile
phone-based, microfinance-focused bank.
In 2012 Aski and BanKo entered into an agreement to introduce mobile
banking platform in its micro-agri loans for rice farmers. The provision
of agricultural loans was pilot-tested with rice farmers receiving a
crop management recommendation from Rice Crop Manager to increase their
rice yield and profit.
The Rice Crop Manager is a web-based tool developed by International
Rice Research Institute, in partnership with the Department of
Agriculture, that provides rice farmers with a fertilizer recommendation
precisely matching the nutrient needs of the crop.
Aski will document the continued expansion of its transition of loan
disbursements from check (a cash-based platform) to mobile, cash-less
platform not only for the farmers but also to other microentrepreneurs.
RolandoVictoria, Aski executive director noted that "Since the
implementation of the program, there has been no comparative study
conducted to look into the benefits of going from cash-based to cashless
transactions."
"We will document the key lessons learned, challenges faced and
processes applied in shifting from cash to electronic payment in the
Philippine perspective specifically in the experience of Aski. We hope
to share with the other organizations across the globe our experiences
on this innovation," Victoria said.
Meanwhile, Frank Schott, interim president and executive director of
NetHope, said that they received and reviewed a wide range of proposals
showing innovative uses for transitioning cash to electronic payments
across a variety of markets.
"Whether organizations are transitioning their payment streams for
internal operational expenses like staff per diems or local suppliers,
or for program clients in health, agriculture or microfinance, it's an
important first step toward promoting financial inclusion. We are
delighted to support these organizations in their commitment toward this
goal," Schott said.
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