Work We've Done

Description:
On behalf of CBK, advising on retail e-payments policy (including non-banks, e-money and m-payments issues), providing detailed feedback on its draft NPS Bill, drafting regulations for retail e-payments, designing institutional oversight framework to supervise regulations, and training CBK staff regarding such framework.

Description:
For the GSM Association, we prepared a presentation analyzing the different business drivers and business cases of the various participants in mobile money deployments which was delivered at the Leadership Forum of the Mobile Money Summit in Barcelona.

Description:
As part of country FSAP, we reviewed the status, constraints and growth prospects of mobile banking sector in this African country in order to make recommendations to financial policy makers and regulators on how to promote the sector.

Description:
We reviewed the business plan for a new mobile payment platform in this country and made recommendations to management about how the plan could be improved to meet international funder standards.

Description:
We were contracted by a large international NGO to assess the use of branchless banking technologies by rural banks and credit cooperatives in the Philippines. In the first phase, we assessed the environment and analyzed the key players in trying to implement branchless banking technologies in the Philippines and Indonesia and compared the two markets. In Phase 2, we undertook a set of studies of different uses of branchless banking at the MFI level and identified the key implementation challenges and innovations at 7 different MFIs in the Philippines.

Description:
We advised this large pre-paid card issuer on the process of securing regulatory approval for a new product launch.

Description:
We met with senior management of this mobile network operator and developed mobile payment concepts which would align with their strategic focus and the market conditions in this country.

Description:
Directed project providing strategic advice to CGAP and DFID on how they should structure their interventions in branchless banking area in coming decade. Addressed driving question: “How can government and private sector most affect the uptake and usage of branchless banking among the unserved majority by 2020?” by engaging some 200 key stakeholders around the world through various channels—workshop, interview, prediction market—to build scenarios which would inform answers to this question. We structured tasks via five workstreams, with an intentional focus on each: customers; financial service providers; telco providers; technology; and government; and facilitated three workshops (Cape Town, Nairobi and Washington) at which key stakeholders participated. The results are summarized in a forthcoming Focus Note.

View the document

Description:
BFA is supporting associated Spanish firm Afi in diagnosing the current environment for mobile banking in Peru, and in formulating a roadmap for action (namely, regulatory reform).

Description:
We developed this first of its kind one day course which introduces private providers to the regulatory challenges of m-banking; and co-taught to 80 participants in two sessions in Cairo and Dubai in 2008. Participant feedback was very positive.

Description:
We undertook diagnostic mission for a multilateral development bank to these two countries to assess the potential for mobile banking in these remote and rural jurisdictions. This included a stripped down diagnostic comparison of the regulatory environment for m-banking, relative to other countries. Drafted ‘Statement of Intent’ for regulating m-banking in PNG.

Description:
We provided advice and reviewed the draft report of consultants appointed by FOMIN to analyze the environment for mobile banking in 6 Latin American countries.

Description:
With cooperation of the Central Bank of Philippines, we developed and taught a business-school type case study which uses the dilemma facing the Filipino financial regulator surrounding the introduction of mobile financial services by a mobile operator to the seminar on Regulating Transformational Branchless Banking.

Description:
We were part of the core steering committee which designed and presented the first and second international seminars in Windsor, UK, which offered training to senior regulators and policy makers from 12 developing countries on the implications of transformational branchless banking.

Description:
We reviewed the risks of the proposed implementation of a mobile channel for this retail bank; and assisted in the preparation of business specifications appropriate for the bank.

Description:
We advised a leading telco group on their approach to and process of obtaining regulatory approval in this country.

Description:
Using a desk based diagnostic, we advised a venture capital firm on the feasible models for investment in mobile payments in this African country.

Description:
Following on from the enabling environment report and the analytical framework project, we developed a self diagnostic for regulators to use to assess their own country environment for branchless and mobile banking. This diagnostic was first applied by SADC Payment Systems regulators in 2007 to yield a methodology to distinguish and rank countries on different metrics.

Description:
We researched and presented a comprehensive report, which outlines the operational risks associated with the choice of mobile devices and channels, as well as how best to manage the risk. This involved discussions with a wide range of leading m-banking and m-payment initiatives worldwide.

Description:
We reviewed the devices, infrastructure and strategy developed by a Mexican multi-bank trust, financed by a tax subsidy, which has rolled out many new generations of point of sale devices, as well as smart card management and mobile payment platforms. This involved extensive interaction with management, as well as banks, telcos and regulators, leading to a recommended strategy forward.

Description:
We developed a concept for a payment platform for Mexican government housing bank SHF, which would facilitate disbursement and repayments of microloans using technological solutions. This involved a review of a solution proposed by FIMPE in the light of other retail payment solutions available.

Description:
We directed a multi-member cross-disciplinary team which has performed diagnostics on 20 countries at a desk top level, and seven through detailed in-country missions, in order to assess how conducive the policy and regulatory environment is to branchless and mobile banking. This will result in a Joint Focus Note on the findings to be released in November 2007; and ongoing diagnostic processes in more countries, including Mexico, over 2007/8.

Description:
For this multilateral investor, we analyzed the potential for m-payments in Indonesia, and advised on strategies to support the development. As part of this, David Porteous gave a workshop to banks, telcos and donors in Jakarta in April 2007.

Description:
We applied the access frontier methodology to new data sets from household surveys to analyze the extent to which mobile banking had transformed or would transform access to banking services in South Africa.

Description:
We provide general advice to this major multi-year project, and particularly for developing the diagnostics toolkits for assessment of the degree of readiness of countries for tech enabled financial solutions. David Porteous is a member of the Strategy Committee of the Gates Foundation-funded Technology Program, which assesses and decides on support for projects which will implement innovative technology-enabled financial services worldwide. In the most recent round of applications, concluded in September 2007, some 140 applications were received for a wide range of technology enabled solutions around the world.

Description:
We developed a model to assist country operators of this multinational to assess the potential for m-banking in each country, and which models of m-payments were feasible in country, as part of strategic plan to develop m-payments.

Description:
We undertook research in three countries (SA, Mexico, Brazil) with large social transfer/G2P schemes in order to produce a research paper and a major briefing note which categorized their approaches to payment and recommended ways of enhancing the financial system aspects for payment of social transfers.

Description:
We directed a multi-member cross disciplinary team which worked with mobile payment providers and bank regulators in pilot African countries to understand current developments and to develop a set of principles, supported by best practice examples, which would enable mobile banking as an appropriate means of expanding access to financial services. The resulting report has been widely cited and used as the basis for policy diagnostic work.

Description:
We reviewed the business plan for a new mobile payment platform in this country and made recommendations to management about how the plan could be improved to meet international funder standards.

Description:
Advised CEO of this new program aiming to promote pro-poor financial sector development in Nigeria on its first year business plan and then reviewed and commented on three year plan.

Description:
In conjunction with staff of the client, we prepared the strategy for this financial regulator to be able to measure financial inclusion over time in Mexico. This involved several trips to Mexico to understand the needs of stakeholders, including other government agencies and financial providers, and analysis of international best practice.

Description:
Analyzed detailed household surveys of financial instrument usage from seven African countries (Finscope) and a micro-level household panel from South Africa (Financial Diaries) to prepare a report informing Foundation’s strategy to dramatically increase access to savings for the poor. The analysis, which included econometric tests and other detailed interrogation of datasets, suggested methods for segmenting the market for savings among the poor, as a basis for multi-phased rollouts of large-scale, savings instrument offerings in developing countries.

Description:
BFA has prepared a key paper for AFI members outlining the process to be undertaken to gather useful demand and supply side data for measuring and monitoring financial inclusion. This paper has become one of AFI's first policy notes.

Description:
Produced a report to a large Foundation which assessed the feasibility of developing a set of global demand-side financial access indicators which specifically considered 1) various options for survey implementation and 2) the risks and benefits as articulated by key stakeholders.

Description:
Directed project to refresh evidence and conclusions from 2006 paper. Project included: a. commissioning a new paper on Indian NREG scheme (Case Study on the Use of Smartcards to Deliver Government Benefits in Andhra Pradesh, India);b. writing a new paper amending the 2006 framework for further understanding the strategic role of financial inclusion in G2P programs (Promoting Financial Inclusion Through Social Transfer Programs); and c. convening/ facilitating a workshop of sectoral experts to discuss the paper and agenda for further work in this area.

Description:
Advising FSD Kenya on design and implementation of innovative payment arrangements for regular, secure payment of new social transfers which started in January 2009. Over a two year period, this involved the establishment of a Challenge Fund to incentivize private sector participation in providing innovative solutions which will also promote broader financial inclusion; and advice on an extensive tender process to find a suitable payment provider which would use a branchless banking approach.

Description:
Wrote chapter on business case for providing financial services linked to G2P, for forthcoming publication on innovation at bottom of pyramid.

Description:
Directed research on scoping report involving primary research in three countries with large G2P schemes; involved categorizing approaches and recommending ways of enhancing the financial system aspects for payment of social transfers.

Description:
Conducted global market research in the field on potential markets for housing microfinance and micro-mortgages in support of an initiative to raise debt and equity from social investors to catalyze more local investment in affordable housing in key markets of interest of a long-time player in international non-profit housing development.

Description:
Conducted evaluation of Central Bank-approved housing micro-loan product designed by BFA and piloted by three rural banks in the Philippines. These banks participated in the BFA-led housing micro-finance research and loan product development project in 2008. The evaluation focused on internal operations, policies and procedures, staff incentives, product adjustments and marketing and promotion, and involved borrowers in focus group discussions to assess product acceptance and housing impact.

Description:
Advised joint venture between two international programs with financial backing of Gates Foundation to conduct market research and support housing microloan product development by four rural banks in Luzon and Mindanoa. Also supported training of trainers exercise for Filippino agencies.

Description:
Assessed pre-feasibility and developed the business plan to establish a wholesale housing non-bank finance company in southern India on behalf of an international NGO and private investors.

Description:
Performed feasibility analysis of expanding the operations of a home loan guaranty corporation into five markets in East Africa. Analyzed mortgage market stakeholders, as well as the rate of default in these markets as part of market-by-market risk analysis.

Description:
Through regression analysis, measured projected household demand for housing microfinance in emerging markets to identify countries where potential growth is most likely. Published Housing Finance International, June 2009

Description:
Part of team advising a housing finance provider which has achieved scale and success in financing inner city landlords, on issues of governance and funding, including facilitating a board strategic workshop at which mission and strategy were reviewed.

Description:
Conducted training on housing microfinance retail products; advised on the policies and procedures of offering structured debt products to MFIs by a start-up commercial bank in which a US-based international NGO is the founding shareholder working in partnership with IFC, KfW, Triodos Bank and private investors.

Description:
Assisted international NGO to develop its “triple bottomline” strategy for investing in business models that promote and finance quality affordable housing at scale in emerging markets.

Description:
Provided strategic advice to UK international NGO and donor partners on expansion of a program that finances investments in slum upgrading in Africa and Asia.

Description:
Developed housing strategy by mapping the affordable housing supply chain in India and identifying the strongest levers for private equity investment into low-cost housing. Identified benchmarks and appropriate pro-formas for investments into project level opportunities.

Description:
Provide strategic advice on innovative structuring of the relationship of this major lender with private developers in order to boost supply side, especially at affordable housing price level.

Description:
Prepared paper for USAID MicroNote publication drawing on case studies of practices and future challenges of housing microfinance around the world.

Description:
Evaluated impact and methodologies of rental housing development in South Africa with particular focus on the Johannesburg Housing Company on behalf of Development Finance Forum, a group of international social capital practitioners

Description:
Evaluated potential for launch of a joint venture finance vehicle for housing microfinance between two leading international development NGOs in Latin America region; and went on to advise on criteria and structure of successful partnerships in other countries.

Description:
Developed the concept of a payment platform for Mexican housing bank SHF, which would facilitate disbursement and repayments of microloans using technological solutions.

Description:
Investigated feasibility of proposed multi-country housing entity in Central America for two major international NGO networks. This led to further work designing a pilot cooperation program in developing joint housing microfinance programs.

Description:
Completed a feasibility study, business plan and design for a start-up microfinance joint venture between a Ghanaian commercial bank and an international NGO, including retail housing microfinance products.

Description:
Presented on global trends in housing finance and facilitated meetings for UN-HABITAT at UN/HUD-sponsored peer exchange conference with government and private sector in West Africa.

Description:
Evaluated impact and sustainability of an international NGO’s first wholesale housing loan in Haiti and helped re-design second loan to same institution.

Description:
Commissioned by German development bank KfW to prepare and present keynote address at their annual finance symposium, this year on housing finance, in Berlin in November. The paper will be published in a collected conference volume.

Description:
Advising a private international banking and consulting group on feasibility of establishing an international housing fund.

Description:
Member of four person expert team advising Mexican government housing bank on strategies to support development of Mexican housing finance sector.

Description:
BFA is managing and implementing this 'action research' project in order to support 5 banks promote 'gateway' financial products (i.e., products that catalyze deeper financial inclusion - savings in particular - either leading to additional distinct products or more intensive use of a single product).

Description:
Led a team in the comprehensive review of the supply- and demand-side experience with the “Mzansi” bank account initiative. Mzansi is a unique initiative in that it was a collaboration between the country’s “Big four” private banks and the state-owned Postbank, which led to the opening of six million accounts in four years (2004-08), mostly by those who were previously unbanked. BFA gathered and analyzed new primary supply-side data, under confidentiality arrangements with all five banks, as well as new qualitative and quantitative demand-side data from in-depth customer interviews and detailed surveys. Comprehensive report was timely launched so that it could contribute to the debate around the future of the Financial Sector Charter and basic financial access initiatives in South Africa.

View the document

Description:
Developed policy and oversaw procedures for this new innovation fund which will support the financial sector in Nigeria.

Description:
Advised on the structure of a funding window to stimulate interest in innovation in rural savings in Africa, including design and facilitation of a workshop for private sector innovators held in Arusha, Tanzania, and advised on funding applications received.

Description:
Appointed chair of 5 person investment committee responsible for making awards of grants and loans to innovative private sector proposals from agricultural and financial sectors in Africa from this $50m fund established by a consortium of donors and hosted by AGRA in Nairobi.

Description:
Advised on strategy for this new donor in the area of technology and microfinance so as to achieve general mission and specific objectives.

Description:
Advised CEO of this new program aiming to promote pro-poor financial sector development in Nigeria on its first year business plan and then reviewed and commented on three year plan.

Description:
Serve as ongoing strategic advisor to the Board of Trustees of TUHF, an innovative social investor, specializing in financing small landlords in Johannesburg. TUHF describes itself as a ‘not-for-loss’ institution and - from an operational efficiency and financial return perspective - is run like a commercial entity.

Description:
Analyzed and wrote-up a case study on this 12-year old social housing company, which was funded initially with social investment grants. From an operational efficiency and financial return perspective, at least over the past 5 years, JHC has been run commercially such that it is not only self-sustaining but the initial capital investment has grown substantially.

Description:
Developed a metric for social investment rating for US community development banks, using only publicly available data to differentiate and compare, which was applied across an empirical universe of banks and published in forthcoming paper.

Description:
One of a six person expert panel selected to advise the consultants undertaking the detailed design of the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund proposed by DFID and endorsed by the Commission on Africa as a next generation challenge fund.

Description:
One of a two person senior consulting team appointed by DFID/ Gates Foundation to undertake the Review of this GBP15m facility created in 2000 to provide matched grants to promote pro-poor innovation in the financial sectors in eastern & southern Africa and South Asia.

Description:
Responsible for the mid term strategic review of this leading microfinance program based in East Africa. The review involved wide interaction with stakeholders in different places, including site visits in Kenya and Uganda, as well as extensive interaction with management and program management committee to facilitate a clear view of the way ahead beyond the current phase.

Description:
Part of a 4 person consulting team appointed by DFID/ World Bank to undertake the mid term review of this $66m facility created in 2002 to provide technical assistance for financial sector growth and deepening in developing countries. Responsible in particular for logframe evaluation and financial analysis of management contract.

Description:
Set up and led as CEO this donor-funded initiative (DFID, GBP5m) which aimed to catalyze change in the financial markets of southern Africa in order to “make financial markets work for the poor”. Two interim reviews by independent teams rated the program highly; and it was widely recognized in SA for making a substantial contribution to the focus, definition and measurement of the access-related components and initiatives of the SA Financial Sector Charter.

Description:
Participated in the team responsible for the design of a large scale FSD initiative in Nigeria for DFID. This involved developing an understanding of the financial sector through in-country meetings, focused on the banking sector in my case; and creating a program framework.

Description:
Created and commissioned the process of demand side national surveys of financial service needs and usage, which were first piloted in 2002 in SA; then undertaken on a national scale in 2003 and repeated in 2004; also in surrounding countries as well. It creates a clear lens for the development of access initiatives and for the monitoring of progress. As of early 2009, FinScope is now being (or has been) rolled out in 14 African countries plus Pakistan.

Description:
Led the development of comprehensive scenarios of the SA financial system in 2010 from the viewpoint of financial access. This 6 month process involved leading a process of technical input and consultative group workshops, leading to a 1.5 hour presentation which was delivered to a number of high level audiences in SA in 2003; and to the development of a booklet summarizing the scenarios.

Description:
At the request of FinMark Trust, we piloted a Financial Diaries survey for one month on 20 small businesses in Cape Town. Three of the businesses have been profiled in a new video explaining how small business owners use financial services.

Description:
Completed the second annual review for DFID-Bangladesh of the multi-year Prosper program designed (1) to address seasonal starvation through cash-for-work, flexible micro-finance products, and an innovation fund; and (2) to establish a microfinance regulatory agency and a microfinance research and training institute. Provided analysis and recommendations on financing, organizational development, and program design for all four program components.

Description:
Researched and wrote a cross-country report on government policies deemed ‘market-friendly coercion’. Focused on policies ‘encouraging’ multi-bank, private sector rollouts of basic bank accounts. The report served as a basis of discussion at a South African conference on financial sector policy reform.

Description:
We were retained by this research consortium to prepare Focus Notes in a form accessible to policymakers in develping countries on four topics of interest: consumer protection, competition, prudential policy and interest rates. The work involved a synthesis of all available material to identify the 'regulator's dilemma' in each case, and to suggest potential tools in the regulator's toolkit to manage the dilemma. We also prepared short Policy briefs on each topic.

View the document

Description:
We advised this deposit taking MFI on how a mobile channel strategy would fit its expanding business model, preparing a report for senior management.

Description:
Developed a manual for the client, DFID, with the objective to provide governments, donors and NGOs promoting social transfer programs with clear and practical guidance on how to assess, design and implement financially inclusive payment arrangements.

Description:
We were contracted by a large international NGO to assess the use of branchless banking technologies by rural banks and credit cooperatives in the Philippines. In the first phase, we assessed the environment and analyzed the key players in trying to implement branchless banking technologies in the Philippines and Indonesia and compared the two markets. In Phase 2, we undertook a set of studies of different uses of branchless banking at the MFI level and identified the key implementation challenges and innovations at 7 different MFIs in the Philippines.

Description:
We undertook diagnostic mission for a multilateral development bank to these two countries to assess the potential for mobile banking in these remote and rural jurisdictions. This included a stripped down diagnostic comparison of the regulatory environment for m-banking, relative to other countries. Drafted ‘Statement of Intent’ for regulating m-banking in PNG.

Description:
We undertook research in three countries (SA, Mexico, Brazil) with large social transfer/G2P schemes in order to produce a research paper and a major briefing note which categorized their approaches to payment and recommended ways of enhancing the financial system aspects for payment of social transfers.

Description:
We undertook research in three countries (SA, Mexico, Brazil) with large social transfer/G2P schemes in order to produce a research paper and a major briefing note which categorized their approaches to payment and recommended ways of enhancing the financial system aspects for payment of social transfers.

Description:
We undertook research in three countries (SA, Mexico, Brazil) with large social transfer/G2P schemes in order to produce a research paper and a major briefing note which categorized their approaches to payment and recommended ways of enhancing the financial system aspects for payment of social transfers.

Description:
One of a two person senior consulting team appointed by DFID/ Gates Foundation to undertake the Review of this GBP15m facility created in 2000 to provide matched grants to promote pro-poor innovation in the financial sectors in eastern & southern Africa and South Asia.

Description:
Responsible for the mid term strategic review of this leading microfinance program based in East Africa. The review involved wide interaction with stakeholders in different places, including site visits in Kenya and Uganda, as well as extensive interaction with management and program management committee to facilitate a clear view of the way ahead beyond the current phase.