The document discusses the importance of digital financial services (DFS) for enhancing access to formal financial services among underserved populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the advantages of DFS, including increased customer convenience and outreach to rural areas, and outlines Opportunity International's focus on leveraging technology, improving customer interactions, and expanding services, especially for women. The organization aims to impact 5.72 million clients through DFS by 2018, with plans for future growth in Asia.

1. Why is Opportunity Focused on Digital?
The Opportunity Digital Financial Services Program
Alex Baum, Senior Program Manager | May 10, 2018

2. So…Who are you?
• Senior Program Manager
– Stewardship of donor funds
– US staff responsible for monitoring work in field
– Technical programs
• Portfolio
– Digital Financial Services (DFS)
– Knowledge Management (KM)
– Social Performance Management (SPM)
– Asia (China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines)
2 | Opportunity International

3. 3 | Opportunity International
“Digital access to and
use of formal financial
services by excluded
and underserved
populations.”
- CGAP
Digital Financial
Services are the tools
for doing this.
What is Digital
Financial
Inclusion?

4. Mobile Money and Agent Banking
4 | Opportunity International

5. Why DFS?
• In much of Sub-Saharan
Africa, mobile phones are
more common than access to
electricity
• By 2020, there will be an
estimated 535 million unique
mobile subscribers in Sub-
Saharan Africa
5 | Opportunity International

6. Why DFS?
• Customer convenience
– Travel times
– Travel costs
– Going cashless
• Reduced costs for bank
• Outreach to rural areas
• New types of services
6 | Opportunity International

7. 7 | Opportunity International
• High Tech
• High Touch
• High Impact
Opportunity’s
Model

8. High Tech
• Cellphone banking
• Interactive Voice Response
• 2-Way SMS
• Biometric Information
• Data Analysis
• Modeling
• Credit Scoring Algorithms
• Digitized Education Loans
8 | Opportunity International

9. High Touch
• Women less likely to use digital services
• Usage is a consistent focus point
• How do we make agent networks better for customers?
– Reliable
– Well trained
– More extensive
9 | Opportunity International

10. High Impact
Goal for 2018
Clients Impacted through DFS
5,720,000
10 | Opportunity International

11. What is in the future?
• Expansion in Asia
– India
– Indonesia
• Cutting edge technology
– Smart Compliant Loan
Algorithms
– “Formula 1” Product in
India
• Focus on women
11 | Opportunity International