Project Year
2010
Region(s)
Central Asia
Country(ies)
Afghanistan
Project Description
Afghanistan highlights the potential and challenges of mobile money services: a rapidly
growing mobile phone penetration; limited access to fixed banking infrastructure;
in a flux of change; high levels of textual, numerical and technical illiteracy; variable
access to mains electricity. What impact will the introduction of mobile money services,
and in particular M-Paisa, have on consumers in Afghanistan? How do mobile money services
work alongside existing money practices? And are there lessons that can be drawn for
the design of mobile money services around the world? Drawing on insights from users,
agents and other eco-system stakeholders, this project will document the impact of
the introduction of mobile money services in Afghanistan, through interviews and photo-documentation
in three distinct locations.
Researcher(s)
Jan Chipchase, Panthea Lee
About the Researcher(s)
Jan Chipchase graduated with a Masters in User Interface Design from London Guildhall University. He is Executive Creative Director of Global Insights of Frog Design, one of the world's leading strategic-creative consulting firms. He writes about design and innovation at http://janchipchase.com/.
Panthea Lee works on technology for development initiatives in various sectors. Currently at the
Innovation Unit UNICEF, she focuses on leveraging communications and information technology
to improve UNICEF programming and service delivery. She graduated from McGill University
in Montreal, and has research experience in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan and
Suriname.
Synopsis of Research Results
Link to Jan Chipchase and Panthea Lee's White Paper/Report: Mobile Money Afghanistan
Link to Jan Chipchase, Mark Rolston, Cara Silver and Josh Blumensock's White Paper/Report: In the Hands of God: A Study of Risks and Savings in Afghanistan
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