Digitisation of humanitarian and government social payments

Overview

Abstract

Phase I of the project surveyed the landscape of delivery mechanisms used to disburse humanitarian cash payments and government social protection payments in Nigeria. It assessed the state of mobile financial services and digitally enabled payments. A report documenting the survey findings and recommendations was published and shared with stakeholders in May 2021. The report covered humanitarian and government cash transfer payment flows, findings covering the regulator, service providers & agents as well as humanitarian and government agencies. The report also provided a separate implementation roadmap with four overarching factors that can contribute to an ideal scenario where unrestricted cash transfers can be delivered to a digital wallet in an open-loop payment ecosystem. This roadmap formed the basis for phase II where working groups were formed bringing together interested stakeholders to develop concept notes that can be considered to drive the digitisation of cash transfer payments.

Phase II was concluded in December 2022 with the publication of 4 detailed concept notes developed in consultation with humanitarian and government payment stakeholders in Nigeria. The concept notes are now available to interested humanitarian actors, government agencies and donors for implementation.

Results

The following 4 concept notes have been developed and published on our website to drive digital cash transfers.

  1. Digital Savings for cash transfer recipients,
  2. Government to persons (G2P) recipient segmentation,
  3. Humanitarian recipient segmentation
  4. 4) Foundational ID registration support

The concept notes package includes Nigeria-specific versions as well as country agnostic versions. Many of the recommendations identified for Nigeria through the research are applicable for other countries as well and can be adopted as a valuable resource. Each package includes (i) the concept notes in word, (ii) a PowerPoint presentation that can be used to pitch the concept notes to funders and (iii) a workplan in Excel that details activities and time requirements to implement the concept notes.

Project Details

Project Title

Digitisation of humanitarian and government social payments

Implementing Partner

Strategic Impact Advisors (SIA)

Donor(s)

FCDO

Value (in £)

113,000

Implementation Period

2020 - 2022

Countries Covered

Nigeria

Project Description

Phase I of the project surveyed the landscape of delivery mechanisms used to disburse humanitarian cash payments and government social protection payments in Nigeria. It assessed the state of mobile financial services and digitally enabled payments. A report documenting the survey findings and recommendations was published and shared with stakeholders in May 2021. The report covered humanitarian and government cash transfer payment flows, findings covering the regulator, service providers & agents as well as humanitarian and government agencies. The report also provided a separate implementation roadmap with four overarching factors that can contribute to an ideal scenario where unrestricted cash transfers can be delivered to a digital wallet in an open-loop payment ecosystem. This roadmap formed the basis for phase II where working groups were formed bringing together interested stakeholders to develop concept notes that can be considered to drive the digitisation of cash transfer payments.

Phase II was concluded in December 2022 with the publication of 4 detailed concept notes developed in consultation with humanitarian and government payment stakeholders in Nigeria. The concept notes are now available to interested humanitarian actors, government agencies and donors for implementation.

Target results

The following 4 concept notes have been developed and published on our website to drive digital cash transfers.

  1. Digital Savings for cash transfer recipients,
  2. Government to persons (G2P) recipient segmentation,
  3. Humanitarian recipient segmentation
  4. 4) Foundational ID registration support

The concept notes package includes Nigeria-specific versions as well as country agnostic versions. Many of the recommendations identified for Nigeria through the research are applicable for other countries as well and can be adopted as a valuable resource. Each package includes (i) the concept notes in word, (ii) a PowerPoint presentation that can be used to pitch the concept notes to funders and (iii) a workplan in Excel that details activities and time requirements to implement the concept notes.

Progress

  1. Publication of the research findings accompanied by a roadmap with specific recommendations for supporting digitisation efforts.
  2. Presentation of the findings to stakeholders in a webinar
  3. A series of key informant interviews and workshops were held to finalise the 4 concept notes, secure partners and develop budgets and workplans.
  4. Publication of the concept note packages on FSD Africa’s website. Each package includes (i) the concept notes in word, (ii) a PowerPoint presentation that can be used to pitch the concept notes to funders and (iii) a workplan in Excel that details activities and time requirements to implement the concept notes.
  5. Sensitisation of stakeholders on the concept notes to drive awareness and encourage their uptake is ongoing.

The concept notes package can be used by stakeholders to:

  • Supplement their current proposal content to add digitisation and access to finance elements that may help expand impact
  • Provide templates for stakeholders to seek additional funding for their ongoing programming.
  • Build stakeholder’s boiler plate language around key integrations of digital economy and digital finance into their future programs.
  • Provide materials (i.e. summary decks and documents) that will help make the case and improve their pitch to donors regarding digitisation of humanitarian and government social payments
  • Provide an overview of detailed activities that will be required to complete key phases of each concept note.

Contact

Updated: September, 2023