Impact evaluation
Can markets be developed to promote economic self-reliance of refugees?
An evaluation of the promotion of digital financial services in Ethiopia by SHARPE
- Published by
- International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
- Project implementer
- DAI
- Donor
- FCDO
- Programme
- Strengthening Host and Refugee Populations in Ethiopia (SHARPE)
- Results level
- Systemic change
- Method
- Mixed method
- Data source
- Mixed
- Intervention types
- Improved access to finance
- Improved marketing of products
Strengthening Host and Refugees Populations in Ethiopia Programme (SHARPE) works to inclusively and sustainably empower refugees and host communities in Ethiopia to become more economically resilient.
SHARPE identified the financial market as a strong target for market systems interventions, based on reforms to the Refugee Proclamation in Ethiopia in 2019 allowing refugees to access telecommunications and banking services.
As a result, nascent mobile money platforms aligned with banks could begin to market digital financial services to refugees. As digital financial services had already been growing in Somali region, impact evaluation work was focused around the investments SHARPE was making in the financial market system in the two areas of Somali region (Jijiga and Dollo Ado).
Intervention description
SHARPE partnered with Shabelle Bank to onboard customers, agents, and merchants to the HelloCash mobile money platform. Activities included door-to-door visits by Know Your Customer (KYC) officers, distribution of promotional materials, public meetings, and advertisements through TV, radio, and billboards.
The project specifically targeted small businesses to become mobile money agents and signed up merchants to accept HelloCash. During the intervention period (August 2020 to November 2022), over 75,000 individuals enrolled in HelloCash though enrolment was skewed towards men in the host community. Refugees were less likely to use HelloCash, with 70-75 per cent of enrolees not making any transactions.
Evidence methodology
The impact evaluation used a mixed methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 865 HelloCash and non-HelloCash users in late 2022 in Jijiga and Dollo Ado. Additionally, focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted at two different times during the evaluation.
Two randomised trials were co-designed by IFPRI, SHARPE, and Shabelle Bank to test methods for overcoming constraints to HelloCash enrolment and use. These trials included different incentive structures to encourage enrolment and usage among refugees and host community members.
This programme’s results measurement system underwent a pre-audit review using the DCED Standard.