1. Mobile Technology: Privacy and other regulatory concerns have limited access to mobile communications metadata useful for public health. Is there a path forward? Brookings
2. Savings: "After years of relative neglect from proponents of 'financial inclusion,' why are [ROSCAs] now getting the attention they deserve?" CFI
3. Cash Transfers*: Are cash transfer evaluations doing enough to measure community-level tensions? IRIN News
4. Financial Inclusion: India's ambitious effort to bank the unbanked might create millions of new account holders, but true financial inclusion is more elusive goal than issuing plastic cards and numbers. The Indian Express
5. Big Data: Individuals can now willingly sell their marketing data to fund microfinance initiatives abroad - social enterprise or clever marketing scheme? Forbes
*If you're in the New York area and are interested in further discussion on cash transfers, please join us for FAI and MFCNY's event - How Unconditional Cash Transfers are Transforming International Development on Monday, December 8.
The image below is the first place winner in the 2014 CGAP photo contest aimed at visually capturing impact of microfinance and financial inclusion around the world. The complete list of winning photography is available here.
Editor's Note:
If you were hoping that the faiV would be a pleasant distraction from the overwhelming flow of AI-related content, sorry. For the record, the faiV had “ai” built in before Anthropic existed. And a housekeeping note: we’ve finally jumped ship from Mailchimp to NYU’s mailing platform—I guess if you’re reading this it’s been a seamless transition and if you’re not, well, you’re not. Feedback on the faiV’s content and format and delivery methods is always welcome, just drop me an email.
- Tim Ogden