INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL INCLUSION FOR ALL (INFIFA) PROJECT

The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that 15% of the  World's population live with some form of disabilities (PWDs).Financial Inclusion remains to be a major challenge among populations of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Worldwide. However, this experience is more felt for the majority of PWDs living in sub-Sahara Africa (sSA). INFIFA seeks to highlight barriers and experiences that have consistently excluded persons with disabilities in general and visually impaired persons in specific from equitably accessing FinTech services and products in Kenya.  Lack of reliable disability data is a present reality in Kenya. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has placed the total number of PWDs in Kenya at 2.2% of Kenya's entire population which is estimated to be about 50.9 million as per the (KNBS 2019) Census. 0.7% of PWDs are Visually impaired persons, whom by all living standards are classified to be among the poorest of the poor in the society.  On average visually impaired persons are more likely to experience adverse socio-economic outcomes than persons without visual impairments. The World Blind Union (WBU) estimates that 253 million persons worldwide are Blind and/or Partially Sighted. The African Union of the Blind (AFUB) projects that about 70 million Blind and Partially Sighted People live in Africa. Visually impaired persons have traditionally been regarded as recipients of charity. Mainstream FinTech operators who include; Mobile Money Operators(MMOs), Banks, Savings and Credit Societies (SACCOS) and Micro-Finance Institutions have fallen short of devising policies, practices and vehicles that naturally onboard this population to access equitable FinTech services and products. This is because there is no reliable data to support development of FinTech services and products. How do we bridge the gap that exists between FinTech operators and visually impaired persons?

A recent study conducted by GSMA in collaboration with KUB and Safaricom  PLC in July, 2020 in Nairobi Kenya dubbed: "The digital lives of refugees and Kenyans with disabilities in Nairobi: A human-centred design approach to identifying mobile-enabled opportunities." identifies barriers like high levels of dependency and loneliness, low levels of digital literacy and lack of mobile assistive technology features such as screen readers as glaring gaps that face visually impaired persons in their quest to access equitable quality FinTech services. (Find attached copy of the GSMA study)

Basing on the evidence that was generated by the GSMA study, KUB in collaboration with Safaricom PLC have since 2018, launched a mass registration exercise for visually impaired persons. The goal of this exercise is to establish reliable data for visually impaired persons, that can be modelled within Kenya's corporate sector in general. KUB and Safaricom have developed a dedicated registration system solution that operates through an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Code. The systems captures and disaggregates data basing on age, gender, impairment, level of education, region and profession. The solution has managed to register over 55,000 visually impaired persons by 30 March 2023. The net effect of this process to date has achieved validation and whitelisting of disability data data by Safaricom PLC.   

The solution is named "Jisajili" Swahili word for "Register". It is a system solution that is registered, operated and maintained by KUB and Safaricom PLC. It is regulated by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) and is hosted on cloud to support registration of visually impaired persons anywhere in the country where Safaricom's network coverage is present. 

The system solution captures exclusive disaggregated data for visually impaired persons who register on the platform by dialing USSD code; *678#. The elements captured within the solution include, name, age, gender, disability, region, level of education, and profession.

The system solution has since November, 2018 registered over 55,000 visually impaired persons from all walks of life. 5000 persons with visual impairments are currently whitelisted and are able to access and enjoy services offered by Safaricom PLC. The system solution at present, manages data of visually impaired persons on behalf of Safaricom PLC. This solution can be expanded to share visually impaired persons' data to various integrated businesses intending to provide FinTech services and products to them under secure and protected circumstances.

The system solution data can be supplied to various actors including government agencies, private corporations and development organizations. Safaricom who have supported the initiation of this process, have not restricted the supply and use of data to third parties who wish to use it for noble purposes of alleviating human suffering for visually impaired people.

If fully embraced, registration and data management will serve as an entry point for accessing FinTech services and products for PWDs in general and Persons' with visual impairments in specific. The system  data solution will aid banks, SACCOs, MFIs and associated FinTech actors to tailor innovative products that align to aspirations and needs of visually impaired persons in Kenya and the larger East Africa community. 

The project targets and serves visually impaired persons living in Kenya and the larger East African Community (EAC). The KNBS estimates that 0.7% of Kenya's population are persons living with visual impairments. Majority of visually impaired persons live within limits of less than a dollar and a half per day. Most visually impaired persons in Kenya live in rural areas where economic opportunities are scarce and where poverty levels have escalated.  Disability mainstreaming in Kenya is still a major concern, as most sectors including FinTech are yet to adapt their policies and practices to serve communities of PWDs in general and visually impaired persons in specific.

The FinTech sector in Kenya, is blatantly ignorant of the financial and technological needs of visually impaired, to an extent where it has not mainstreamed disability guidelines within their policies and practices, consequently excluding a critical mass from accessing financial technology services and products that are enjoyed by mainstream communities.    

The would be second tier of beneficiaries to this system solution are: government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), private sector and the development community who continues to grapple with how they can access reliable disability data in Kenya. Lack of reliable data on disability is a reality today that most sectors of the industry continue to crack. The system solution shall make available reliable and accurate data for visually impaired persons , especially, to the FinTech industry ,thus, ensuring that the same is shared to several relevant actors who shall require this data for the purpose of developing custom made products and services for visually impaired persons.   Data development and  sharing is the gateway to access financial services and products for all visually impaired persons.             

KUB and Safaricom are operating under an open ended Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU was signed in 2018, and has KUB tasked with piloting  data development services and promotion of adaptive digital financial technologies for the visually impaired, in order to increase the uptake of financial and technology products that are offered by Safaricom PLC i.e. Mpesa, Fuliza, Mshwari, etc.

Both institutions have technical capacity and requisite experience to undertake the exercise on disability data management and FinTech services mainstreaming on disability. 

KUB is a national organization of the Blind and Partially Sighted headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and with a presence in all 47 counties in Kenya. 

KUB is affiliated in mission with the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) and the World Blind Union (WBU).This places KUB at a very strategic platform for linking and learning with other organizations of the Blind in the continent as well as globally. 

KUB has a membership of about 100,000 visually impaired persons and growing. The union operates 47 county branches where most of her members are domiciled. KUB works with the government of Kenya, private sector, civil society organization and international development agencies.

Safaricom PLC is a Kenyan based  FinTech company within the Vodacom Group of Companies. Safaricom PLC is one of the largest company by subscriber base and also boasts of having competitive and diverse products for its customers.  

The registration process was informed through a baseline survey that was conducted by GSMA and which involved KUB and Safaricom PLC. A number of visually impaired persons were interviewed and some of the view that was shared was critical to start the implementation of mass registration for the visually impaired. Through out the registration process, KUB members have been involved in the exercise both as registrars and Key interview informants.

Over the years, while undertaking this project, KUB and Safaricom PLC have consistently adapted services and products to suit demand needs of visually impaired persons.

The solution has registered 55,000 persons with visual impairment by 30th March 2023.   5,000 visually impaired persons have been validated and whitelisted to use Safaricom's services that include: Mpesa, Mshwari, Fuliza, Bonga points 

Solve stands out to be an objective and a solid facility/partner leading in amplifying persistent world's problems and matching them with possible solutions. Basing on her experience at a global stage, Solve offers world class technical and creative support to prospects with projects that have long term social impact and life transformation.

INFIFA/Jisajili program is run by KUB and Safaricom PLC, is an intervention that brings the furthest to the forefront by deliberately inventing disaggregated data of persons with visual impairments and supplying it to the industries in both qualitatively and quantitatively. KUB see this practice as one that can be scaled not only within the country but also regionally, continentwide and globally.

There is need to strengthen the processes; in terms of scaling efforts on publicity and visibility; the concept of mass registration is not having much traction due to meagre resources and expertise that are dedicated to deliver awareness among communities of visually impaired persons in Kenya, and also within the industry. Visibility can be achieved through improving strategies and tactics that are being used by KUB to  run the Jisajili campaign. KUB would required capacity strengthening from Solve to achieve this milestone.  

Data distribution: There is need to provide to KUB the technical assistance for managing and distribution of data i.e. especially to external global actors who might be interested to further design and develop products for visually impaired persons overseas.

Linking and learning: There is need to support efforts on documenting the journey and demonstrating how mass registration and data management  works out, in order to inspire similar efforts across cultures and across the world. 

Widening the Reach: Registration can be expanded to introduce and onboard another set of data development for example; Deaf and hard of Hearing persons. KUB seeks support to scale the registration system so that it can in future comprehensively register PWDs of other categories. The system solution as it is skewed to serve only visually impaired persons at the moment.

The solutions will be rolled out in two pronged approaches the include:

(i) Disability Policy/Guidelines Mainstreaming for Sustainability: KUB shall support INFIFA team partners to mainstream their internal standard operational policies and procedures (SOPPs) to be user disability friendly. The partners and collaborators will include: The Disability Empowerment Savings & Cooperative Society (DESCOS),The Cooperative Bank of Kenya Limited, Safaricom PLC and Kenya Union of Savings & Cooperatives Company Ltd (KUSCCO).

(ii) Collaborative Service Delivery Approach                                                Coalition Building with Key Partners and Collaborators: The project shall be implemented through a collaborative model that shall involve established giant organizations leading in fintech. KUB already has existing MoUs and working relationships with collaborators and partners who will be involved with INFIFA.

(iii) Work with Direct Beneficiaries (WDB): The project targets organized Disability Led Community Organizations/groups as well as operational small and micro enterprises (SMEs) that demonstrate potential to propel.  

(iv) Novel Adaptions: Catalyze FinTech companies to adapt and align their policies and practices towards disability inclusion.

KUB seeks to see a continent that embraces financial inclusion for all Persons with disabilities. We see a continent that continuously innovates new products and services for PWDs.

We want to see FinTech MMOs, SACCO's, banks and MFI adapt their policies and practices to align with the aspirations and needs of PWDs.

We want to see solutions been offered across governments, industries through reliable disability data.

The progress will be measured through a number of key performance indicators which include and are not limited to:

(i) Accelerated registration by visually impaired in Kenya

(ii) Increased technical and economic support of development partners to strengthen disability data

(iii) Number of MFI,SACCOs, Banks and FinTech companies adapting their policies and practices towards disability inclusion

(iv)Alliances and coalitions built around INFIFA model of inclusion

(v) Number of PWDs getting out of poverty as a result of economic empowerment.

Achieving Reliable Disability Data is a very important step towards Achieving Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in Africa. Data will aid FinTech Actors to Design and Develop Tailor made Solutions that will enhance Banking to Millions of PWDs in Africa.

KUB is currently employing the use of a USSD code and bulk  messaging to spur registration of visually impaired persons across the country.

The hallmark of this solutions has its foundation on enhancing equity and inclusion.

Jisajili system solution is bi-cameral: It has both a humanitarian and a business dimension. It seeks to liberate millions of persons who have been left behind and are excluded from accessing FinTech services and products on one hand. On the other hand it seeks to support sustainable business that is inclusive and has its policies and practices mainstreamed placing the furthest to the forefront.

The humanitarian approach ensures that all visually impaired people who have been registered can be validated and whitelisted to access Fintech services provided by Safaricom PLC.

The business dimensions seeks to serve research and development users, and the wider industry, who will be required to pay some minimal fees to access disaggregated data, so that they can use it to design innovative FinTech solutions for visually impaired persons.

A company that shall embrace inclusion while fashioning her products and services shall automatically have an advantage to onboard new customers who will come with new demands for services.

KUB shall adopt work to strengthen its resource mobilization through grant making, offering technical consultancy services on disability data at a fee and through bidding for tenders.

Disability data is an area that needs to be further developed as it has been neglected by most development actors. KUB seeks to work with Solve to strengthen this space. This is a true case in Kenya, East Africa and the larger sub Saharan Africa.

KUB has over the years worked with Global, Regional and Local partners to advocate for rights of PWDs in general and visually impaired persons in specific.

KUB has an endowment fund that it uses to run its core activities every year.

KUB also works with partners through grants that come through to support specific projects