Low and middle income countries are characterised by high rates of maternal mortality, in spite of a rise in facility-supported births. This warrants a need to assess the quality of maternal care. The current study evaluated provider perspectives on teaching … Read More
Publications
Understanding the Impact of Demonetization on Bank Account Holders from Low Income Households
This study, conducted by IFMR LEAD, attempts to contribute to the ongoing debate of the short and long-term effects of demonetization on low income households who while formally banked, are among the most prone to adverse effects of demonetization policy, … Read More
Study to Test Incentives for Onboarding Merchants and Consumers
The brief presents findings from a study that tested the awareness of digital payments systems and the efficacy of different government incentive schemes in promoting adoption and usage of payment platforms.
Gen-Next Chit Funds – From Dusty Dabbas to Digital Khaatas
Catalyst partnered with Kyepot technologies to study how informal chit funds or Rotating Savings and Credit Association (ROSCAs) can be digitized and graduated to a formal platform. This field story captures Farida ben’s experience of transitioning her traditional chit fund … Read More
Enroute Lakshya – Power of Savings to Meet Unending Possibilities
This field story captures insights from an initiative to expand access to formal savings accounts for low-income communities as part of Catalyst’s Incubator Initiative. Kaleidofin, a startup that was part of the first cohort of the program, seeks to empower … Read More
Financing Smallholder Agriculture: An Experiment with Agent-Intermediated Microloans in India
In this paper, the authors explore the hypothesis that traditional joint-liability microfinance programs fail to increase borrower incomes in part because they cannot screen out unproductive borrowers. In randomly selected villages in West Bengal, India, a study was implemented in … Read More
Doubling Farmers’ Incomes: Strategies and Recommendations for Tamil Nadu
This report presents findings from a study that seeks to understand current income levels of farmers in the state, and understand the necessary actions and focus areas that needs to be prioritised. This also provides an opportunity to assess strategies … Read More
Performance of Models for Lending to Individuals in the Microfinance Sector
This report presents findings from a study on the performance of models for individual lending in microfinance, conducted in Mysore and Allahabad.
Agents of Change: How the Human Touch is Bringing Digital Financial Services to New Customers in India
In this report, the authors evaluate the factors currently shaping the adoption of digital financial services by emerging consumers in India and assess the crucial role that frontline banking agents play in helping to successfully transition their clients to digital … Read More
Evolving Financial Ecosystem for Micro-Merchants in India
The digital revolution in India is well underway and there is a need to understand the adoption and usage of digital platforms on the ground. This report presents findings from a study of micro-merchants conducted in five cities: Jaipur, Kanpur, … Read More