Education loans During the course of the financial diaries project, we discussed many different types of loans with the respondents, who were all clients of either BRAC or MFIL. We approached the topic from different angles. Sometimes we discussed their financial challenges first and in a participatory way found out which type of loans might […]
What is it Like to be Part of a Microfinance Group?
The financial diaries process gave us a chance to hear from microfinance clients how they experience the services provided via the group. End of October ’18 (so roughly three-quarters into the research) we asked a wide range of questions about their experiences as microfinance clients. So here goes, ‘Everything you ever wanted to know about […]
Business Women and Their Phones
In five instances during the 3W research, we asked the women entrepreneurs “Do you personally own a phone?” The results varied according to different interview rounds and did not show a clear pattern of more and more people getting their own handset. It took us some time to unravel the ‘story’ behind this.First of all, […]
My First Weeks as a Data Expert with L-IFT
I have recently joined L-IFT as a data analyst and was given the Myanmar project as my first project to handle. I did not know anything about the country other than it existed in Asia, further research showed me that it borders China, India, and Thailand. I have since studied a few other things about […]
How Average is the Average?
By Maria Helmrich At L-IFT, we are in the process of developing a data collection app; a type of platform where our respondents can self-report their data and get access to their results directly.Having tested the app numerous times, inputting respondents’ data, and test-building profiles, it repeatedly occurs to me how different everyone is and […]
Esther’s Research Experience: The Ups and Downs of Working in an Urban and Peri-urban Setting in Uganda
It all began in August 2016 when L-IFT started its legendary Financial and Energy Diaries in Uganda (FEDU); I was one of the lucky ones to be selected as a researcher. The team had researchers from Eastern, far Eastern, Central, and Western Uganda. It started with training on how the research will be conducted using […]
The Research Listens to Us, That’s Great!
“Yes, yes, I like your research. It is nice to talk to Siham.” A lot of giggling follows. But then seriously: “You know, she really listens. So I normally think that I am just not interesting, just a normal girl from Mediouna (It is a town and municipality in Médiouna Province of the Casablanca-Settat region […]
Do Better-off People Have Higher Financial Literacy? By Maria Helmrich
Hearing the term financial literacy can often be intimidating, though really it is not as complicated as it seems. It is not necessarily about understanding complicated financial statements. It is simply the knowledge that we use to make financially responsible decisions; mostly to avoid over-indebtedness. There are some typical questions that are asked in order […]
A Respondent’s Experience on Saving
I am Elizabeth, one of L-IFT’s Researchers. In July 2016 Marcienne Umubyeyi and Mahlet Alemayehu selected me as one of the researchers and since that moment I have been part of the team. I interviewed many people in a zone around my house until it ended in May 2017. But recently we went back to […]
Anthony’s Experience Working as a Researcher
As the faithful readers of L-IFT’s blog know, L-IFT started its Financial and Energy Diaries in Uganda (FEDU) project in August 2016 by interviewing 2,109 people for its baseline. From October 16 until April 17, L-IFT’s 25 researchers and 4 supervisors conducted the FEDU with 588 respondents. These respondents were interviewed every other week resulting […]