Project Leader from SIAS: Rachana Upadhyaya
Project Partners: Aria Technologies Pvt Ltd. And Meromicrofinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd (Bank)
Funder: United Nations ESCAP
Duration: October 2020 to June 2021
Project description:
The main objective of the research is to understand the viability of the technological solutions designed for increasing the financial access of women’s farmers, client of Meromicrofinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd (Bank). For this purpose, we have selected two apps- MunshiG and Mizani, developed by Aria Technologies to increase the accessibility of women farmers owning SMEs to financial resources. The research scope includes understanding both the broader societal constraints and also technological constraints of women in accessing financial resources. This action research process will help us train women in using our app through which an opportunity to understand the nuances in women’s limitation in using FinTech app. With an already built app in hand, we are better suited to understand specific constraints for women in use of technology.
Within the broader objective, the research will be guided by the following questions:
- What are the factors that encourage women farmers to use the mobile apps for their business finance management ?
- What are the features within the app that facilitate/and or constraints the use on a personal level?
- Identify ways to make the app more women user friendly to encourage the use of technology for financial inclusiveness.
- How do bank staff perceive the Mizani software in terms of making loan appraisal simplified and fair compared to traditional methods used by Meromicrofinance bank?
- How much time can be saved by the use of Mizani software on loan appraisals on an average compared to traditional appraisal methods used by Meromicrofinance banks?
Project Site: Nuwakot District
Project team at SIAS: Rachana Upadhyaya , Binod Adhikari and Yuvika Adhikari
