Executing Human Centered Design Research to Test the Applicability of Smartphone-Enabled Digital Financial Services for Women

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) or Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) is a multilateral development finance institution. The AfDB was founded in 1964 and comprises three entities: The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund. The AfDB’s mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and private companies investing in the regional member countries (RMC).

M-KOPA Kenya has received a loan from the AfDB to finance Executing Human-Centered Design Research to Test the Applicability of Smartphone-Enabled Digital Financial Services for Women.

The principal objectives of this project are to :

Design new gender-centric Digital Financial Services (DFS) innovation for women SMEs in Kenya. The project will assess factors that influence women’s uptake and utility of mobile services and DFS through customer surveys and focus group discussions. Insights from customer research will inform product development to enhance financial literacy and greater uptake of relevant DFS.

The project includes the following components :

a)  Gender/HCD consultancy – develop questionnaire and research tools for remote survey data collection and in-person focus group discussions and deliver insights around customer DFS needs assessment and behavioral and knowledge perceptions of smartphone-enabled value-add information services and DFS.

b)  Software development consultancy – develop prototype smartphone interface and features based on research findings and user requirements and iterate to deliver MVP based on customer feedback.

Procurement of goods and/or works will be in accordance with the Bank’s Rules of Procedure for the Procurement of Goods and Works. Acquisition of the services of Consultants will follow the Bank’s Rules of Procedure for the Use of Consultants. Bidding documents are expected to be available in August 2021.

Interested bidders may obtain further information, and should confirm their interest, by contacting: