Mobile Phones & Poverty Reduction IDRC Field Study: June 4 - July 17, 2007 Kathleen Diga Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdiga/

Research Problem: 1) how access to mobile phones and mobile phone services affect the spending behaviours within poor households in Eastern Africa, and 2) how have these adjustments in spending habits within homes actually assisted the poor out of poverty.

1) how access to mobile phones and mobile phone services affect the spending behaviours within poor households in Eastern Africa, and

2) how have these adjustments in spending habits within homes actually assisted the poor out of poverty.

Research Timeline mobile diaries, Focus Groups, Household Interviews Kambakia, Meru, Kenya Conduct field work in Kenya July 2007 mobile diaries, Focus Groups, Household Interviews Katote, Wakiso, Uganda Conduct field work in Uganda June 2007 request dataset from RIA! 2004 Johannesburg, South Africa Meet partner LINK Centre (Wits) May 28-31, 2007 research manual, research tools Durban, South Africa Draft on report - Research Design / Methodology May 2007 secure facilitation for study Kampala, Uganda RIA!/PICTURE Training April 22-24, 2007

Research Themes: A) Substitution (Cost-Benefit) B) Financial Planning C) Intra-household Dynamics

A) Substitution (Cost-Benefit)

B) Financial Planning

C) Intra-household Dynamics

Data Collection (Qualitative) Dataset - RIA! 2004 e-Access survey 12 households interviews in total (6 Wakiso, Uganda, 6 Meru, Kenya) + mobile diaries Key Informants (airtime retailer, mobile phone repair, microfinance, etc.) 5 Focus Group Discussions (3 women’s groups, 2 men’s groups) Ethnographic observations

Dataset - RIA! 2004 e-Access survey

12 households interviews in total (6 Wakiso, Uganda, 6 Meru, Kenya) + mobile diaries

Key Informants (airtime retailer, mobile phone repair, microfinance, etc.)

5 Focus Group Discussions (3 women’s groups, 2 men’s groups)

Ethnographic observations

Preliminary Analysis I saved to buy a call box first and the profits will let me buy a mobile” (shop keeper) Savings through Roscas, ‘kibina’, savings box 1) “Mobile phones bring development”

Preliminary Analysis High Cost of Ownership - airtime spending for non income earning calls Substitution: sugar, meat, clothing “ Mobile phones bring poverty”

Preliminary Analysis Less women owned phones. Restrictions placed on use of Husband’s phone “ Mobile phone brings confusion”

Preliminary Analysis “ I can’t imagine what would happen If I couldn’t contact grandchildren.” Mobiles have brought security and assistance to the unsecure