This annual gathering is intended to promote innovations in technology that “are making a measurable difference millions of lives” through humanitarian relief, development projects and conservation efforts. The event’s themes include digital inclusion, digital health, food security, agriculture, and youth engagement and employment. The primary sponsor is the US-based NGO Catholic Relief Services. The cost to attend ranges from USD 250 to USD 1,000. For further information, you may contact the organizers via +1 757 748 5003 or adminict4dconf@crs.org.

Mr Budiman et al present several examples of successful implementa­tions of rural cash-in / cash-out agent networks, which enable customers to exchange cash for electronic money and vice versa. According to the Global Findex, 1.4 billion adults are financially excluded, and 31 percent of this group lives far from any financial institutions. Rural CICO agent networks are one way to address this gap in access to financial services.

Bancolombia invested in rural CICO agents in Colombia, allowing these private ventures to reach a significant number of rural customers. Without such an in­vestor, rural enterprises may find the up-front cost of becoming agents too high. Government subsidies can help, as can technical assistance from domestic and international investors.

To expand rural CICO agent networks, the authors suggest that providers of digital financial services: (1) carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the rural market in question; (2) consider outsourcing agent training to a third party; (3) in addition to training rural agents, create a salesforce to build rural demand; and (4) focus on engaging women as agents.