Author Archives: [email protected]

Measuring Financial Health of Informal Workers: Why it Matters

Sabina Yasmin, Panchali Banerjee

The global pandemic would be the most recent and appropriate example to substantiate the need for measuring the financial health of informal workers. COVID-19 induced severe downscaling of economic activities, due to which the LMICs have suffered strong financial consequences. … Read More

From Access to Use: Insights on Serving Women Banking Customers in India

Sabina Yasmin, Sonja Kelly, Flavy Sen Sharma

India leads the world in the expansion of financial access to low-income people, especially low-income women. As the access challenge is nearly solved, the opportunity financial services providers now face is engaging their customers.  Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are uniquely … Read More

Mobilising Strategic Philanthropy to Strengthen Unorganized Workers

This project aimed for higher upward socio-economic mobility of unserved/underserved unorganized workers, with enhanced inclusion and resilience through the Dignity in Labour Platform. Background More than 80% of India’s non-agricultural labour force comprises informal employees (ILO, 2018) where low productivity … Read More

Access to Finance for Women-run MSMEs in India

The study aimed to understand the nature of difference in access to credit by entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs in terms of barriers and propose solutions Background Women-run micro, small and medium enterprises (WMSMEs) account for approximately only 20 percent of … Read More

Evaluating Adoption of Climate Resilient Agricultural Practices: Evidence from India and Nepal

This study aimed to understand how climate hazards impacts the livelihoods of farming communities. Background Climate change has adverse implications for crop yield, food supply, market prices and can further aggravate the situation of food insecurity and poverty in South … Read More

Financial Health Scorecard for Gig and Platform Workers

This project aimed to create a scorecard or assessment tool for financial health that can serve as an index or a collection of various metrics.   Background Financial inclusion has been a top priority for policymakers and the private sector, as … Read More

Using Power Balancing (POWBAL) for Demand Response

This project aims to make the energy sector cleaner by moving power consumption to the times when power generation is the least carbon-intensive, leading also to cost savings.   Background A team led by researchers at Imperial College London have developed … Read More

Understanding the Treatment Gap for Substance Use Disorder in India

The study aims to measure the availability of treatment for substance use disorder in selected states in India, understand the treatment preferences of medical practitioners, and gain insights into treatment demand (or lack of it). Background Substance or drug use … Read More

Women in India’s Startup Ecosystem Report (WISER)

ACT Grants, Udaiti Foundation, McKinsey & Company, LEAD at Krea University

India’s startup ecosystem has been pivotal in unleashing economic growth and catalyzing entrepreneurial innovation. As a leading and high growth employer, the industry attracts a large and diverse pool of talent, positioning it uniquely to lead the way toward gender … Read More

ACT Grants and Swasth Alliance: Response to Covid-19 in India

This evaluation assessed the oxygenation initiatives anchored by a non-profit venture philanthropy platform (ACT Grants) aimed at enabling a more effective and affordable healthcare system in India in the long term. Background Given the magnitude of COVID-19’s adverse health and … Read More