Thesis

Unlocking digital wallets : factors that impact mobile money adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa

Creator
Rights statement
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2026
Thesis identifier
  • T18083
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 202173230
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • For over a decade financial inclusion has occupied a dominant position in global developmental agendas. Researchers and policymakers have been interested in the contributions of financial inclusion at both a national and international level. Studies have found that financial inclusion promotes financial development, reduces poverty and income inequality, and facilitates economic growth (Hollanders, 2020; Barajas et al., 2020; Sha'ban et al., 2020). Mobile money has the potential to promote financial inclusion by facilitating payments and remittances and overcoming infrastructural challenges, such as poor roads and electricity, that could hinder establishment of banks and access to financial services in rural areas (Demirgüç-Kunt and Klapper, 2012; Jack and Suri, 2011). Mobile money was first launched in Kenya in 2007 to send and receive local remittances to rural areas where there were no bank branches (Mugambi et al., 2014). At its inception, mobile money used USSD1 protocol and Short Message Service (SMS) to send notifications across mobile phones to confirm money was sent or received (Jack and Suri, 2011; Bwalya and Healy, 2010). The simplicity of the innovation and the technology it was built on facilitated the easy adoption of mobile money across sub-Saharan Africa. The success was achieved by establishing local agents, who were often small business owners providing cash-in and cash-out services to customers needing to transact.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Bowden, James
Resource Type
DOI

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