Digital financial inclusion (henceforth DFI) is becoming central to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) work in addressing food security and nutrition, the effects of compounding covariate shocks, and realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships). A central component of WFP’s current work across its operations is the transfer of cash. Cash transfer programmes that WFP either delivers itself or supports the government to deliver, either in humanitarian or non-emergency contexts, aim to provide people the means to meet their essential needs in local markets and to contribute to longerterm objectives such as financial inclusion and the agenda of women’s economic empowerment, when the programmes are intentionally designed to do so. These interventions can provide first-time access to bank or mobile money accounts, and financial services to unbanked and underserved populations and their businesses.
To that WFP RBB has commissioned ODI to conduct a study that will speak to the wider audience of policymakers, donors, NGOs, governments, and academics who work in the DFI space as it relates to cash/CBT for low-income populations. The study has two components: a research component mapping out regional actors as well as providing illustrative information on end-user experience and a consultancy component focused on working with WFP country offices in case study countries. To gather data on the end user experience ODI will carry out a small data collection exercise in three countries: Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh. This part of the study is focused on gathering data on whether cash transfers delivered digitally lead end users to engage with financial products (available digitally or otherwise). To that end, in Bangladesh, ODI assigned dRi to conduct a total of 8 FGDs only with users of the DDR in Cox’s Bazar. The FGDs are accompanied by paired KIIs with people with disability (also provided in the table below) who are users of DDR – a total number of 8 interviews with 16 participants.
Serial No: 230
Theme: Governance and Legal Issues
Research Method: Qualitative
Partner: Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
Starting Year: 2022
Study Area: Cox’s bazar
