Comments on: The Diary of an M-PESA User: The Case of the Shoemaker in Kibera http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/ How can technology increase the reach of microfinance? Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:55:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Aline http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-1180 Aline Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:52:20 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-1180 very interesting article are the experiences similar in other countries for such services like MTN Banking or orange money ? very interesting article
are the experiences similar in other countries for such services like MTN Banking or orange money ?

]]> By: SMS Money Transfers with Africa’s M-PESA http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-1152 SMS Money Transfers with Africa’s M-PESA Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:28:53 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-1152 [...] How does the M-PESA service benefit the average Kenyan? Olga Morawczynski, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh who spoke at the GSM World Congress in Barcelona last February, shared the story of Martin, a shoe-maker in Kibera, an informal settlement just outside Nairobi. Martin makes about US$ 20 a day from his trade and sends a quarter of his earnings to his wife and mother, who live in Western Kenya, over 100 miles away. M-PESA saves Martin time, allowing him to work his trade instead of having to travel far outside his place of work to find a bank. The service also enables him to make frequent transfers – about 5 times a month – thereby allowing him to send a week’s earnings when his family needs the money most. Martin’s story as well as the results of Olga Morawczynski’s study can be found here. [...] [...] How does the M-PESA service benefit the average Kenyan? Olga Morawczynski, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh who spoke at the GSM World Congress in Barcelona last February, shared the story of Martin, a shoe-maker in Kibera, an informal settlement just outside Nairobi. Martin makes about US$ 20 a day from his trade and sends a quarter of his earnings to his wife and mother, who live in Western Kenya, over 100 miles away. M-PESA saves Martin time, allowing him to work his trade instead of having to travel far outside his place of work to find a bank. The service also enables him to make frequent transfers – about 5 times a month – thereby allowing him to send a week’s earnings when his family needs the money most. Martin’s story as well as the results of Olga Morawczynski’s study can be found here. [...]

]]> By: Jennie http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Jennie Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:46:08 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-1032 Hi, Olga. This article is very interesting! I am working on a project in one of my graduate classes. We are trying to recommend a marketing plan in which these mobile money transfer companies could use to communicate with Kenyans. Specifically we are looking at the product usage between Kenyans living abroad and sending money back home. Do you have any insights? How do you reach Kenyans living in remote areas to communicate the benefits of transfering money on their phone with family members miles away? Thank you! Hi, Olga.

This article is very interesting!

I am working on a project in one of my graduate classes. We are trying to recommend a marketing plan in which these mobile money transfer companies could use to communicate with Kenyans. Specifically we are looking at the product usage between Kenyans living abroad and sending money back home. Do you have any insights? How do you reach Kenyans living in remote areas to communicate the benefits of transfering money on their phone with family members miles away?

Thank you!

]]> By: Olga Morawczynski http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-994 Olga Morawczynski Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:52:18 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-994 Aber, in Kibera many of the informal sector workers would pay their suppliers by hand. They explained that they did this because face-to-face contact was still a very important part of the exchange. Other suppliers compared the transaction cost of M-PESA to the cost of travel. If it was cheaper to send via M-PESA, then it was to pay for transport, then they would send via M-PESA. Mark, I think that many of the patterns noted here would be similar in urban centers of Kenya. I found out from the diaries that the urban centers and rural areas have their distinct financial patterns. M-PESA is used differently in these two contexts. For example, many residents in rural Kenya also send money to relatives. However, even if they are M-PESA users they prefer to bring the money by hand. Again, they note that face to face contact is a vital part of the exchange. Thanks to everyone for their questions and feedback! Aber, in Kibera many of the informal sector workers would pay their suppliers by hand. They explained that they did this because face-to-face contact was still a very important part of the exchange. Other suppliers compared the transaction cost of M-PESA to the cost of travel. If it was cheaper to send via M-PESA, then it was to pay for transport, then they would send via M-PESA.

Mark, I think that many of the patterns noted here would be similar in urban centers of Kenya. I found out from the diaries that the urban centers and rural areas have their distinct financial patterns. M-PESA is used differently in these two contexts. For example, many residents in rural Kenya also send money to relatives. However, even if they are M-PESA users they prefer to bring the money by hand. Again, they note that face to face contact is a vital part of the exchange.

Thanks to everyone for their questions and feedback!

]]> By: Mark Smith http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-990 Mark Smith Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:59:10 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-990 Do you think that the patterns noted would be similar in other parts of Kenya? Do you think that the patterns noted would be similar in other parts of Kenya?

]]> By: Ismail http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-976 Ismail Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:35:02 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-976 Very interesting and a useful report for the companies who wants to start remittance in own countries. It provides an idea of pricing and coverage as well. Very interesting and a useful report for the companies who wants to start remittance in own countries. It provides an idea of pricing and coverage as well.

]]> By: Tera Smith http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-974 Tera Smith Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:24:29 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-974 Great blog! Is the report published? Where can I find it? Thanks, Tera Great blog! Is the report published? Where can I find it?

Thanks,

Tera

]]> By: Aber http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-973 Aber Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:52:29 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-973 No, I mean is it usual for an entrprneur like martin to not use m-pesa for his business--taking cash for their goods, paying suppliers? In what cases is m-pesa used and not used for these small shops? No, I mean is it usual for an entrprneur like martin to not use m-pesa for his business–taking cash for their goods, paying suppliers? In what cases is m-pesa used and not used for these small shops?

]]> By: Jim Rosenberg http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-972 Jim Rosenberg Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:11:05 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-972 Aber, In some cases, M-PESA is used to buy supplies for small shops, so in that way it is for business. Is that what you mean? There is more on M-PESA at http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.5102 Aber,
In some cases, M-PESA is used to buy supplies for small shops, so in that way it is for business. Is that what you mean?

There is more on M-PESA at
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.5102

]]> By: Aber http://technology.cgap.org/2009/02/17/the-diary-of-an-m-pesa-user-the-case-of-the-shoemaker-in-kibera/comment-page-1/#comment-971 Aber Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:54:02 +0000 http://technology.cgap.org/?p=653#comment-971 Is this usual that M-PESA is not used for business payments? Is this usual that M-PESA is not used for business payments?

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