What Kenya can teach its neighbors — and the US — about improving the lives of the “unbanked”

A dollar sign forms one of the columns of a stately building

From Kelsey Piper / Vox: Mobile banking in Kenya has increased economic mobility for families living in poverty. The mobile money system is not connected to bank accounts, making it accessible to the overwhelming majority of Kenyans who don’t have bank accounts but do have cell phones. Mobile banking allows deposits and withdrawals as well as transfers, and has allowed families to save money to use when their income, often from farming, takes a hit thus creating a security net for themselves and allowing them to receive funds from friends and family. Savings allow families to meet basic needs and access medical care if necessary.

Read the original story here.

Read more articles about increased economic mobility.

More Resources:

From Duncan Agnew / Evanston RoundTable: Through a land trust, Community Partners in Affordable Housing sells homes to buyers at a fixed cost while maintaining ownership of the land they’re built on, allowing those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to...

Tariq Al-Olaimy is the co-founder of Recipes for Wellbeing, a non-profit dedicated to fostering the wellbeing and resilience of impact organizations worldwide. Through his work at the intersection of the Systemic Sacred, Tariq integrates faith, sustainability, and systemic change to...

From Dimitri Selibas / ENSIA: Guatemala’s reforestation programs pay farmers to keep their lands forested instead of clearing them for farming. The annual $380 payment each participant receives for 5 to 10 years comes from the general taxes collected by...

Kumi Naidoo is a prominent South African human rights and environmental justice activist. Naidoo spoke with Ashley Hopkinson on December 15, 2023. Click here to read the full conversation with insights highlighted. Ashley Hopkinson: Can you introduce yourself and tell...

Natalia Linou (Linos) is a policy specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Her current role as part of UNDP’s HIV, health and development team is focused on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and on developing an emerging area...

Mariana is the co-founder of Raízes Sustainable Development. She has a wide experience in management of collaborative projects, sustainable tourism, and dialogue with traditional communities. She enjoys formulating strategies in order to bring collective dreams into reality and has always...

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.