ICT4D and Cash Transfers to IDPs in Bamako CRS Mali Cash, Cell Phones, iPads, & Debit Cards Mobile Services that Empower Vulnerable Communities Ousmane MAIGA Head of Program March 20, 2013 ICT4D Conference Accra, Ghana
Mar 29, 2015
ICT4D and Cash Transfers to IDPs in BamakoCRS Mali
Cash, Cell Phones, iPads, & Debit Cards
Mobile Services that Empower Vulnerable Communities
Ousmane MAIGAHead of ProgramMarch 20, 2013
ICT4D ConferenceAccra, Ghana
Emergency Cash Transfers to IDPsBamako (Communes 3, 4, 6)
Goal: 4,000 displaced persons (599 households) in Bamako can respond to their top 2 priority needs without resorting to negative coping strategies.Partners: Office of Civil Protection, National Agriculture Development Bank (BNDA), IOMBudget : $ 501,811 USDLength of project: 6 months (July-December 2012)Why ICT4D? Facilitates communication, beneficiary registration, payment verification, M&E, beneficiary dignity
ICT4D Solution: iPads for Beneficiary Registration
1. Verification Table2. iPad Registration Table3. Accountant Table
4. Payment in secure location
Software/Vendor: iPad & license for cloud-based iFormbuilder (iformbuilder.com) Tech Support Required: NoneStaff Support: Train staff to use iPads & iFormbuilder; Follow-up during implementation to problem-solve & brainstorm
Pros & Cons: iPads
PROs• Information saved on iPads can be uploaded
rapidly to the online database, eliminating data entry errors.
• Thanks to iPads, the payment/distribution list can be verified the same day with M&E.
• The ability to take beneficiary photos with iPads serves as a deterrant for non-beneficiaries to cheat the system.
CONs• Capturing open-ended responses inpost-
distribution surveys can be challenging if the surveyor is not very accustomed to typing on a touch-screen tool.
ICT4D Solution: Debit Cards
1. Sign contract with bank (BNDA) 2. Bank supplies debit cards &
secret PINs3. Distribute debit cards & PINs to
beneficiaries• Confirm identity, distribute card & PIN• Hostesses assist beneficiaries to use ATMs
Djélika Haidara, IDP from Timbuktu, holds her debit card
Software/Vendor: BankTech Support: None Staff Support: None
PROs: Cash vs. Debit Cards
CASH• Establishes a face-to-face connection between
beneficiaries, authorities, and CRS. • On-site resolution of problems or questions.• Beneficiaries gather in 1 place, making it easier to
conduct post-distribution and satisfaction surveys.• Same-day verification of the number of beneficiaries
that registered and the number that received cash.
DEBIT CARD• Withdrawals can be made when & where
beneficiaries choose, at their convenience.• 35 ATM locations across Mali (15 in Bamako).• The bank provides all necessary personnel.• Eliminates the risk of insecurity or fraud associated
with direct cash distributions.• Engages beneficiaries with formal banking systems.
Training at ATMs
CONs: Cash vs. Debit CardsCASH• CRS provided all personnel and organized all
distributions, including calls to beneficiaries to assign days/times and staff for verification.
• Potential chaos on distribution days, i.e. beneficiaries may show up on days or times that were not assigned to them, resulting in long wait times.
DEBIT CARD• Illiteracy makes remembering PINs and using
ATMs more challenging. • ATMs lacked small bills.• ATMs go down when the internet does.• Establishing bank contracts can be time-
consuming.• Beneficiary liberty makes M&E collection more
difficult.
A BNDA hostess demonstrates how to use the ATM.
Lessons Learned using ICT4D
CELL PHONES1. Designate a phone line for feedback, FAQs, advice,
etc. 2. Plan for the staff (and staff time) to call beneficiaries
to give them distribution times/dates. iPADs3. GPS on iPads can make it easier to locate beneficiary
lodgings in order to conduct M&E. 4. Camara on the iPads makes it easy to identify
beneficiaries and resolve any confusion between 2 IDPs.
DEBIT CARDS5. Debit cards uphold beneficiary dignity—after the
initial distribution, debit cards can be used at the beneficiary’s discretion.
NEXT TIME…6. Add bar codes to beneficiary participation cards to
further accelerate registration and verification.
This 3-year old, who fled Gao with her mother and 6 siblings, holds her family’s participant card, Nov. 2012
(Helen Blakesley/CRS)
ICT4D Costs
*higher costs may be necessary in areas where bank networks/ATMs do not exist
Unit QuantityUnit Cost Frequency TOTAL
BNDA Prepaid debit card Card 500 $12 1 $6,000Cost to charge/recharge Recharge 500 $2 1 $1,000 $7,000
Orange MoneyWeb SMS service access fee fee 1 $51 1 $51Monthly SMS fees (600 SMS) fee 1 $71 1 $71
Cash Distribution service fees transaction 500 $4 1 $2,000
Staff presence at initial distribution (5 locations*3 days) person/day 15 $45 1 $675Purchase of cell phones cell phone 500 $22 1 $11,000Purchase of SIM cards (donated by Orange) card 500 $0 1 $0 $13,797iPads iPad + Griffin cover iPad 2 $549 1 $1098iFormbuilder license license 2 $4 1 $8
$1106
85% food
43% health28% lodgings
24% clothes9% communication/transport
5% to other IDPs
Cash
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85% able to meet family obligations
31% access to basic health services
23% restored dignity
12% access to material goods4% education
4% otherFamily
Help
Resignation
Labor/S
ervices
Debt
Begging
Sell Asse
ts IGA
56.4
27.3
14.16.2
2.2 1.3 1.3
38.8
11.517.6
0.9 0 0.9 1.3
Coping Strategies Before & After
Before Cash After Cash
Results Achieved3,777 IDPs received cash distributions
(573 HH, of which 274 were female-headed HH)
Total Amount Distributed (*Nov 2012)$ 285,538.70 (cash)
$73,078.64 (debit card)
Key Messages
• There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in a dynamic, diverse emergency context, even within the same country. Multiple systems (direct cash, debit cards, mobile money) should be considered at the same time in order to serve all those in need.
• Cash transfers must combine speed, efficiency, and innovation, and the approach must be flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances.
• You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Have confidence that people can learn to use new systems, like debit cards and mobile money.
QUESTIONS?