Navigating FinTech and EdTech in the Asia Pacific: A Case ... · with UNESCO for EdTech project,...
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RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com PROJECT 1 RECOMMENDATIONS The national financial inclusion program supports microfinance, mobile financial services for the unbanked, and supports small medium enterprises (SME) particularly for women. • Updated stats of key MFS players not available • Research lacks focus on women and SME • Internet penetration is a big problem • Need more comprehensive overall FinTech policy • More clarity on digital currency E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +1-330-310-0789 Navigating FinTech and EdTech in the Asia Pacific: A Case of Bangladesh By- Shubhi Thakuria About UNESCAP: • Regional development arm of UN, established in 1947 • Covers 53 countries of Asia-Pacific • Largest UN body in the region with over 600 staff Department: ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction (IDD) Location: Bangkok, Thailand Duration: May - July 2018 Key Deliverables: Policy Brief & Case Study for Research The internship project was initially intended to explore the interaction between women, small medium enterprises, and green growth in the Asia Pacific. Once the project started on field due to the lack of data and interest of member nations the scope of work was modified to look into FinTech in the Asia Pacific with a focus on Bangladesh. I also got the opportunity to work on another project in EdTech in Bangladesh in collaboration with the UNESCO. PROBLEM STATEMENT FinTech enables consumers to fulfill their financial needs online by digitally facilitating financial services. Some of the common services includes: lending, saving, payment, and remittance FINTECH LANDSCAPE IN BANGLADESH Bangladesh has a population of approximately 166 million in 2018, where nearly half of the people aged 15 or above lack a bank account[1]. Globally, 3% of the 1.7 billion unbanked people live in Bangladesh[2]. The trends of account ownership are shown in Figure 1[3]. There is a significant rise in the people with accounts and mobile money accounts but the gender differences are strikingly prominent in both the cases, the difference between males and females with a bank account is 29 percentage points and the difference between males and females with mobile money accounts is 22 percentage points. The rapid increase in the number of people with mobile phones and internet subscription in Bangladesh as shown in figure 2 has provided new avenues for the country to bank its unbanked people and hence promote financial inclusion [4,5]. EVOLUTION OF FINTECH FROM FINANCE The financial system in Bangladesh started developing since its independence in 1971. Presently, the finance sector in the country consists of five state-owned commercial banks, 39 domestic commercial banks, nine foreign banks, three specialized banks, four non-scheduled banks and nearly 700 licensed microfinance institutions (MFIs)[6]. FinTech started marking its presence in Bangladesh in 2011. Mobile Financial Services (MFS is the key area of FinTech which is getting popular and acceptable in the Bangladesh. PROJECT 1: FINTECH - AN OPPORTUNITY TO BANK THE UNBANKED Elements Brief tasks Identify scope Prepare statement of work , Learn the work of UNESCAP, Understand project goals, and constraints, Arrange travel logistics Identify definitions Literature review to identify the definitions, Interview relevant stakeholder, Identify theory of change Focus areas Narrow the sub-regional focus in the Asia Pacific, Prioritize from: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka) Research Question Identify the key questions and areas of focus by consulting various stakeholders Qualitative Research Narrow the stakeholders, Interview them; Identify and document cases Partnerships Assess potential resource/data sharing partners, Partner with other UNESCAP departments- Macroeconomic Policy and Social Development department, Partner with UNESCO for EdTech project, Quantitative Research Identify available datasets- JSTOR, World Bank Data, IMF Data, Wiley Online, UN iLibrary , ProQuest, Identify indicators of interest Future work Phase 2 or not, Capstone or not Out of Scope Actual data collection and data entry, Legal work, Implementation or testing of any intervention, Establishing formal partnerships with the project stakeholders SCOPE OF WORK METHODOLOGY Literature Review, Key information Interviews, and Database search, Research, Trend and market analysis, stakeholder and staff interview INTERNSHIP ICT TRENDS IN BANGLADESH Bangladesh is a country in Southern Asia with a moderate literacy rate of 72.76%[7] and low internet penetration rate of 13.2 % in 2016[8]. The increase in the number of internet subscribers as shown in figure 2 clearly demonstrates the demand for internet, but it is not in conjunction with the supply of internet[9,10]. Bangladesh was ranked 147 from 176 countries in ICT Development Index (IDI)[11]. LINKING ICTAND EDUCATION- STATUS OF SDG 4 UN’S SDG 4 ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Bangladesh is one of the early starter countries in the implementation of the SDGs. With the support of UNDP, the planning commission of Bangladesh prepared the 7th Five Year Plan 2016-2020 in coordination with the targets of SDGs[12]. DATA GAPS FOR SDG 4 SDG 4 has a total of 10 targets with 11 indicators. A study conducted by the planning commission of Bangladesh on “Data Gap Analysis for SDGs: Bangladesh Perspective” found that data of out of ten, two indicators (4.6.1, 4.c.1) are readily available, six indicators are partially available (4.1.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1, 4.5.1, 4.a.1, 4.b.1), and the data is not available for the other three indicators (4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.7.1)[13]. Though the study claims the partial availability of six indicators, but, it does not point to the resource where it can be found. The slow speed, high cost, and limited outreach of internet possess hurdle towards the inclusion of ICT in education in Bangladesh. Based on our study, we figured out the following areas for Bangladesh to focus for promoting ICT in Education: • Measurement SDG 4 indicators: The data pertaining to internet and mobile phone subscribers was reading available but there is still a dearth of data on quality education as listed in SDG 4. This needs to be tracked and measured more concretely. • Impact Evaluation: The evaluation of the key programs implemented in the ICT and Education section: This will help the government decided what worked and what did not and hence achieve the SDG 4. • Improvement in Internet Development Index and Inclusive Internet Index: These internationally recognized matrixes could help the country get an idea of its progress compared to other nations in the region and March towards achieving SDGs. PROJECT 2: EDTECH – PATHYWAY TO BOOST LITERACY Figure 1: Account ownership trends by gender and year in Bangladesh Data Source: Findex 2017 by World Bank, Graph- Shubi Thakuria References: [1] ww.worldometers.info/world-population/bangladesh-population/ [2] [2]globalfindex.worldbank.org/sites/globalfindex/files/chapters/2017%20Findex%20full%20report_chapter2.pdf [3]www.worldbank.org/en/programs/globalfindex [4]www.btrc.gov.bd/content/mobile-phone-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2017 [5]www.btrc.gov.bd/content/internet-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2018 [6] www.cashlearning.org/downloads/mfsinbangladeshapril2015.pdf [7]http://uis.unesco.org/country/BD [8]http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users-by-country/ [ 9]http://www.btrc.gov.bd/content/mobile-phone-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2017 [10]http://www.btrc.gov.bd/content/internet-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2018 [11]https://www.itu.int/net4/ITU-D/idi/2017/index.html [12]https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/BGD/SSIP_Annual_Report_2016-17.pdf [13]http://www.plancomm.gov.bd/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SDG-DATA-Gap-Final-Draft.pdf Figure 2: Mobile Phone and Internet Subscription Data Source: Bangladesh Government, Graph- Shubhi Thakuria PROJECT 2 RECOMMENDATIONS CONTACT
Transcript of Navigating FinTech and EdTech in the Asia Pacific: A Case ... · with UNESCO for EdTech project,...
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
PROJECT 1 RECOMMENDATIONS
The national financial inclusion program supportsmicrofinance, mobile financial services for theunbanked, and supports small medium enterprises(SME) particularly for women.
• Updated stats of key MFS players not available• Research lacks focus on women and SME• Internet penetration is a big problem• Need more comprehensive overall FinTech policy• More clarity on digital currency
E-mail: [email protected]: +1-330-310-0789
Navigating FinTech and EdTech in the Asia Pacific: A Case of Bangladesh By- Shubhi Thakuria
About UNESCAP:• Regional development arm of UN, established in 1947• Covers 53 countries of Asia-Pacific• Largest UN body in the region with over 600 staffDepartment: ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction (IDD)Location: Bangkok, ThailandDuration: May - July 2018Key Deliverables: Policy Brief & Case Study for Research
The internship project was initially intended to explore theinteraction between women, small medium enterprises,and green growth in the Asia Pacific. Once the projectstarted on field due to the lack of data and interest ofmember nations the scope of work was modified to lookinto FinTech in the Asia Pacific with a focus onBangladesh. I also got the opportunity to work on anotherproject in EdTech in Bangladesh in collaboration with theUNESCO.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
FinTech enables consumers to fulfill their financial needs online by digitally facilitating financialservices. Some of the common services includes: lending, saving, payment, and remittance
FINTECH LANDSCAPE IN BANGLADESHBangladesh has a population of approximately 166 million in 2018, where nearly half of thepeople aged 15 or above lack a bank account[1]. Globally, 3% of the 1.7 billion unbanked peoplelive in Bangladesh[2]. The trends of account ownership are shown in Figure 1[3]. There is asignificant rise in the people with accounts and mobile money accounts but the gender differencesare strikingly prominent in both the cases, the difference between males and females with a bankaccount is 29 percentage points and the difference between males and females with mobile moneyaccounts is 22 percentage points. The rapid increase in the number of people with mobile phonesand internet subscription in Bangladesh as shown in figure 2 has provided new avenues for thecountry to bank its unbanked people and hence promote financial inclusion [4,5].
EVOLUTION OF FINTECH FROM FINANCEThe financial system in Bangladesh started developing since its independence in 1971. Presently,the finance sector in the country consists of five state-owned commercial banks, 39 domesticcommercial banks, nine foreign banks, three specialized banks, four non-scheduled banks andnearly 700 licensed microfinance institutions (MFIs)[6]. FinTech started marking its presence inBangladesh in 2011. Mobile Financial Services (MFS is the key area of FinTech which is gettingpopular and acceptable in the Bangladesh.
PROJECT 1: FINTECH - AN OPPORTUNITY TO BANK THE UNBANKED
Elements Brief tasksIdentify scope
Prepare statement of work , Learn the work of UNESCAP, Understand project goals, and constraints, Arrange travel logistics
Identify definitions
Literature review to identify the definitions, Interview relevant stakeholder, Identify theory of change
Focus areas Narrow the sub-regional focus in the Asia Pacific, Prioritize from: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka)
Research Question
Identify the key questions and areas of focus by consulting various stakeholders
Qualitative Research
Narrow the stakeholders, Interview them; Identify and document cases
Partnerships Assess potential resource/data sharing partners, Partner with other UNESCAP departments- Macroeconomic Policy and Social Development department, Partner with UNESCO for EdTech project,
Quantitative Research
Identify available datasets- JSTOR, World Bank Data, IMF Data, Wiley Online, UN iLibrary, ProQuest, Identify indicators of interest
Future work Phase 2 or not, Capstone or notOut of Scope Actual data collection and data entry,
Legal work, Implementation or testing of any intervention, Establishing formal partnerships with the project stakeholders
SCOPE OF WORK
METHODOLOGY
Literature Review, Key information Interviews, andDatabase search, Research, Trend and market analysis,stakeholder and staff interview
INTERNSHIP
ICT TRENDS IN BANGLADESHBangladesh is a country in Southern Asia with a moderate literacy rateof 72.76%[7] and low internet penetration rate of 13.2 % in 2016[8]. Theincrease in the number of internet subscribers as shown in figure 2clearly demonstrates the demand for internet, but it is not in conjunctionwith the supply of internet[9,10]. Bangladesh was ranked 147 from 176countries in ICT Development Index (IDI)[11].
LINKING ICT AND EDUCATION- STATUS OF SDG 4UN’S SDG 4 ensure inclusive and equitable quality education andpromote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Bangladesh is one ofthe early starter countries in the implementation of the SDGs. With thesupport of UNDP, the planning commission of Bangladesh prepared the7th Five Year Plan 2016-2020 in coordination with the targets ofSDGs[12].
DATA GAPS FOR SDG 4SDG 4 has a total of 10 targets with 11 indicators. A study conducted bythe planning commission of Bangladesh on “Data Gap Analysis forSDGs: Bangladesh Perspective” found that data of out of ten, twoindicators (4.6.1, 4.c.1) are readily available, six indicators are partiallyavailable (4.1.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1, 4.5.1, 4.a.1, 4.b.1), and the data is notavailable for the other three indicators (4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.7.1)[13]. Thoughthe study claims the partial availability of six indicators, but, it does notpoint to the resource where it can be found.
The slow speed, high cost, and limited outreach of internet possesshurdle towards the inclusion of ICT in education in Bangladesh. Basedon our study, we figured out the following areas for Bangladesh to focusfor promoting ICT in Education:• Measurement SDG 4 indicators: The data pertaining to internet and
mobile phone subscribers was reading available but there is still adearth of data on quality education as listed in SDG 4. This needs tobe tracked and measured more concretely.
• Impact Evaluation: The evaluation of the key programsimplemented in the ICT and Education section: This will help thegovernment decided what worked and what did not and henceachieve the SDG 4.
• Improvement in Internet Development Index and InclusiveInternet Index: These internationally recognized matrixes could helpthe country get an idea of its progress compared to other nations inthe region and March towards achieving SDGs.
PROJECT 2: EDTECH – PATHYWAY TO BOOST LITERACY
Figure 1: Account ownership trends by gender and year in BangladeshData Source: Findex 2017 by World Bank, Graph- Shubi Thakuria
References:[1] ww.worldometers.info/world-population/bangladesh-population/ [2][2]globalfindex.worldbank.org/sites/globalfindex/files/chapters/2017%20Findex%20full%20report_chapter2.pdf[3]www.worldbank.org/en/programs/globalfindex[4]www.btrc.gov.bd/content/mobile-phone-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2017[5]www.btrc.gov.bd/content/internet-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2018[6] www.cashlearning.org/downloads/mfsinbangladeshapril2015.pdf[7]http://uis.unesco.org/country/BD[8]http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users-by-country/[9]http://www.btrc.gov.bd/content/mobile-phone-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2017[10]http://www.btrc.gov.bd/content/internet-subscribers-bangladesh-january-2018[11]https://www.itu.int/net4/ITU-D/idi/2017/index.html[12]https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/BGD/SSIP_Annual_Report_2016-17.pdf[13]http://www.plancomm.gov.bd/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SDG-DATA-Gap-Final-Draft.pdf
Figure 2: Mobile Phone and Internet Subscription Data Source: Bangladesh Government, Graph- Shubhi Thakuria
PROJECT 2 RECOMMENDATIONS
CONTACT
