LISTA: Ending Poverty and Vulnerability at Scale via Financial Inclusion

LISTA

Over 2 billion adults around the world are financially excluded, and for those living in poverty (facing income volatility and insecurity), their lack of financial capabilities is a key barrier, as even large-scale government cash transfer social policies have not succeeded in engaging them. Fundación Capital, an award-winning international social enterprise, spent years working with national governments to address this challenge before ultimately designing a solution. That solution was LISTA – an initiative proven to build financial capabilities for those living in poverty and vulnerability at scale, via a mobile app, circulated on shared tablet devices among thousands of low-income users (typically adult women with low or no literacy, living in rural areas). At a fraction of the cost of alternatives and adopted by national governments into their social protection policies, this digital solution has had more than 250,000 users across six countries since being launched in 2012. In a randomized control trial, LISTA has been proven to enable and empower low-income citizens to manage their scarce resources, increase their savings, and ultimately build assets that smooth consumption, decrease vulnerability and improve well being. LISTA is currently being scaled up with support from USAID across Latin America.

http://www.fundacioncapital.org

International implementation

Ongoing from 01/09/2011 to 31/12/2027

Funders: Citi Foundation, Ford Foundation, International Development Research Centre (IDRC Canada), USAID, Skoll Foundation, Organization of American States, UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development, Inter-American Development Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, etc. In-country partners: Brazil: Ministry of Social Development Colombia: Social Prosperity Honduras: Secretariat of Development and Social Inclusion Mexico: Bansefi, Secretariat of Social Development Dominican Republic: Office of Social Policy Coordination of the Dominican Republic, Government of the Dominican Republic Tanzania: Tanzania Social Action Fund * Please note that in the country list above, Tanzania was not offered as an option of implementation countries

      * E-business

• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
• Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

• Training initiative