Philanthropy Action

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Archive

Feb 26, 2009

Mobile Cash Transfers Pose Threat to Banks

In December of last year, a group of banks reportedly lobbied the Kenyan finance minister to audit M-Pesa, a mobile funds transfer service offered by the telecommunications firm Safaricom, in an effort to have the service shut down.

Feb 18, 2009

Follow Up: Investing in the Future of Rwanda and Congo

The Rwandan government’s current joint military operations with the Congolese army to finally dismantle the remains of militia groups that participated in the 1994 genocide creates an unequivocal opportunity for philanthropic investment no matter how one feels about the politics of the Rwandan government. For those concerned about the future of East and Central Africa and finally ending the various conflicts that have claimed more than 5 million lives, ensuring that remnants of Hutu militias can create peaceful livelihoods should be a top priority.

Feb 10, 2009

When It Pays to Pay

In contrast to studies that have shown a benefit to asking aid recipients to pay a nominal cost for items they receive, an RCT in Western Kenya found that cost-sharing could reduce use of malaria bed nets by 75 percent versus a free-distribution effort. These results provide a lesson to those of us (myself included) who are often tempted to extrapolate. Context is everything in poverty interventions, and this study provides not only insight into what could work to stem malaria infection in Western Kenya, but a reminder that we have to test and re-test our assumptions in the real world. 

Feb 06, 2009

Using Social Influence to Drive Behavior

Social scientists have discovered that human beings don’t like standing out from the crowd when it comes to engaging in behavior of which the majority would disapprove. This tendency is strong, and it can be manipulated for good.