Researchers are collaborating with a state-owned company and the largest provider of microfinance services in Indonesia in an exploratory study to design interventions which could identify productive banking agents among members of the women microcredit groups...

The Government of Indonesia (GoI) aims to include more informal workers in national employment social security (Jamsosnaker) programs, which provide coverage for workplace accidents or death. However, retention is a major concern, since premiums for informal...

The researchers continue collaborating with an Indonesian aquaculture technology company that offers data-driven solutions to shrimp farmers to enhance productivity and operational management. The platform has built a comprehensive membership database of...

This research introduces a novel dataset on digital payments, uniquely linked to track both urban and rural households in their dual roles as producers and consumers. This research aims to leverage these data, alongside tailored focus groups, field surveys...

With the rise of technological development, more Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have begun to leverage the benefits that technology offers to transform their process digitally. Other than streamlining organizational operation, there is opportunity for...

On a global scale, migrant remittances are one of the largest international financial flows to developing countries with growing trends in total remittance growth. Consequently, understanding how remittances are sent and used, and identifying the challenges in...

Our project aims to strengthen local state capabilities in servicing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and to evaluate impacts on local MSME outcomes, including the adoption of Digital Financial Services (DFS) and e-commerce. We will conduct surveys...

As the world’s largest Muslim country, Indonesia faces strong demand among domestic consumers to ensure the halalness of food products consumed. At the same time, there is rising demand from buyers for food suppliers to register for such food certification to...

While the rapid expansion of branchless banking agents has made it possible for millions of Indonesians to have access to financial services in their own locations or villages, this implies an increase in competition faced by agents in a market that is often...

The pilot study aimed to explore the feasibility of digitizing group loans for ultra-micro entrepreneurs. This project was conducted in collaboration with Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB) Venture , a Microfinance Institution (MFI), and OVO, an E-wallet...

The fast expansion of branchless banking has provided millions of Indonesians with access to financial services in their own villages. Branchless banking is likely to develop as regulations mature and market incentives improve, resulting in increased agent...

Kartu Prakerja is a novel Government of Indonesia program that combines vocational training with cash transfers, using a web-based platform and digital G2P (government-to-person) payments, to develop work skills, promote employment, sustain families, and...

Evaluations of microfinance interventions show significant heterogeneity of impact depending on program design and key characteristics of clients. With the emerging digital financial services (DFS) sector in Indonesia, there is an opportunity to transition...

Researchers conducted a randomized experiment with MSMEs in Indonesia to examine important growth barriers facing online businesses. First, to identify the importance of search frictions, they boosted visibility of randomly selected newly-onboarded firms by...

Digital financial services (DFS) are dramatically changing the financial inclusion map of the world. Given the promise of DFS, policymakers are prioritizing the rapid expansion of mobile banking by reducing the adaptation barriers. These barriers are often...

In 2018, the Government of Indonesia began a national rollout of its flagship food assistance program from the in-kind delivery of rice to the distribution of e-vouchers called BPNT, redeemable at a network of private sector vendors. This spurred the...

Policy reports suggest that agent network size, distribution, sustainability, service reliability, quality and demographics are important determinants of their performance. However, the available causal evidence on what interventions could be used to increase...