Agri-Fin Mobile Innovations
Half of the billion people affected by undernourishment worldwide earn their primary living from smallholder agriculture. The productivity of these farmers remains very low. A major issue in this context is the lack of access to technical and market information, and to financial services. Providing access to rural advisory and financial services through mobile phones – a highly promising medium to reach millions in remote areas – has a high potential to improve smallholders’ productivity, stabilise their incomes, thus contributing to increased food security.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Global |
Agriculture & food security Employment & economic development Governance Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Agricultural development
Informal banking & insurance Information and communication technology (ICT) |
01.06.2012
- 31.05.2015 |
CHF 2’600’000
|
- Other international or foreign NGO North
- Mercy Corps
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation AGRICULTURE
BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNICATIONS
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Agricultural development
Informal and semi-formal financial intermediaries
Information and communication technology (ICT)
Type of support Official development assistance (ODA)
Type of collaboration Bilateral cooperation
Finance type Aid grant
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Tied/untied aid Untied aid
Project number 7F08255
| Background |
Access to mobile phone networks is growing dramatically in rural areas of developing countries, providing a powerful channel of communication and the ability to link excluded rural communities to up-to-date information. The aim of the present project is to “bundle” key services of agricultural advice from private sector, research and extension institutions with financial services providers and telecommunications companies. |
| Objectives |
Smallholder farmers increase and stablise their incomes and manage their production cycle in a more effective way. This shall contribute to improved livelihoods and an increased food security at household and system levels. |
| Target groups |
Smallholder farmers in selected rural areas of Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. The generated knowledge on the models in these countries will be socialised through farmer and rural advisory service (RAS) networks (indirect). |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: Demand-driven bundled financial and rural advisory services via mobile phones are elaborated and made available Outcome 2: Sustainable and scalable business models are established and work Outcome 3: Smallholder farmers have sustainable access and make accurate use of financial and rural advisory services Outcome 4: Knowledge of models, services and products are captured and shared for dissemination and replication |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Development cooperation |
| Project partners |
Contract partner International or foreign NGO |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’600’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’230’117 |
| Project phases |
Phase 2
01.06.2015
- 31.05.2019
(Completed)
Phase 1 01.06.2012 - 31.05.2015 (Completed) |
