Thesis Proposals For ICT PDF

Thesis Proposal
ICT based Microfinance Services Delivery Model

(Action Plan for Pakistan)
Owner: Asif Yaseen asify@kth.se

Examiner: Terrence Brown terrence@kth.se
Master of ICT Entrepreneurship

School of Information and Communication Technology
KTH, Royal Institute of Technology
Stockholm, Sweden
Timeline: July 23 to December14, 2007

Master Thesis Proposal 2
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 5
2. THESIS MOTIVATION ............................................................................................................. 6
3. RESEARCH QUESTION ........................................................................................................... 7
4. THESIS OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................ 8
5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................ 9
5.1 SECONDARY RESEARCH SOURCES ........................................................................................ 9
5.2 FOCUSED GROUP ................................................................................................................... 9
5.3 FIELD SURVEY ....................................................................................................................... 9
6. EXPECTED RESULTS............................................................................................................. 10
7. BENEFICIARIES...................................................................................................................... 10
8. THESIS ORGANIZATION...................................................................................................... 11
9. THESIS METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 12
9.1 PROPOSAL STAGE ................................................................................................................ 12
9.2 LITERATURE REVIEW STAGE............................................................................................... 12
9.3 DESIGN STAGE..................................................................................................................... 12
9.4 DOCUMENTATION STAGE .................................................................................................... 12
9.5 PRESENTATION STAGE ........................................................................................................ 12
10. DELIVERABLES .................................................................................................................... 13
10.1 PROJECT WEBSITE .............................................................................................................. 13
10.2 FINAL VERSION OF PROJECT PLAN.................................................................................... 13
10.3 LITERATURE REVIEW REPORT 1 (MICROFINANCE MODELS & PRODUCTS)...................... 13
10.4 LITERATURE REVIEW REPORT 2 (FINANCIAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK RELATED TO
MICROFINANCE IN PAKISTAN)................................................................................................... 13
10.5 LITERATURE REVIEW REPORT 3 (ICT INNOVATIONS IN MICROFINANCE)........................ 13
10.6 ICT BASED MICROFINANCE DELIVERY MODEL ................................................................ 13
10.7 PROJECT DRAFT PROTOTYPE ............................................................................................ 13
10.8 FINAL PROJECT REPORT .................................................................................................... 13
10.9 PRESENTATION .................................................................................................................. 14
11. GANTT CHART ..................................................................................................................... 14
11.1 KEY ACTIVITIES FOR PROJECT .......................................................................................... 15
11.2 IMPORTANT DATES AND MILESTONES .............................................................................. 15
12. RISK ANALYSIS..................................................................................................................... 17
13. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 19
14. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 19
ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

Document Information
Document Name Version Number Start Date Submission Date
Thesis Proposal 1.0 July 23, 2007 July 30, 2007

Domain: Social Entrepreneurship
Area: Micro finance outreach & Sustainability, breadth and depth of

microfinance services
Context: Information & Communication Technologies
Result: A new delivery system for providing micro finance services like micro
credits, micro insurance and leasing by using information and communication
technologies for mitigating poverty in rural territories of Pakistan.

1. Introduction
Sustainable development is one of the greatest challenges of today. Microfinance
initiatives are recognized as development tools to empower sustainable development.
Microfinance services can be defined as access of poor to financial services who have
been neglected by main banking industry. These people have no access to commercial
banking services due to poverty, lack of education, living in a far flung area and lack of
collaterals. This was started during 1970s and now many different organizations like non-
profit organizations (both regional and international), financial institutions, some
commercial banks and also state, local governments and independent rating agencies are
in the main stream to provide microfinance services in different parts of Asia, Africa,
Latin America and East Europe.
Pakistan is also one of those countries where microfinance outreach has increased at
unprecedented rate and innovative techniques have been used to tap the rural and urban
market as well. Albeit 65% area in Pakistan is rural but still microfinance institutions in
Pakistan have more access to urban areas as compared to rural areas. Moreover, in urban
areas this growth is concentrated in Karachi, Faisalabad and Lahore district as compared
to other one (16% growth is only in Lahore district). In Pakistan, researchers and
practitioners are of the view that micro finance expansion is still in its infancy stage like
in Lahore where the rate of penetration is highest but still passed only16% of total urban
market. Not only in Pakistan, round the globe this is a proven fact that it is challenging to
build village banking model for microfinance services in remote areas due to following
issues faced by microfinance institutions.
1- Building information networks in far flung areas.

2- Management and processing of information at the transaction level.
3- Payment and receipt of money in remote areas.
Everyone of above mentioned reason poses challenge for outreach and sustainability.
Different delivery models and mechanisms have been used to increase outreach and
financial sustainability but a little explored one is use of ICT for developing delivery
architecture. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has a great potential to
support microfinance initiatives. Though many steps has been taken to ensure that ICT is
instrumental in lowering the cost of loan administration and also helps in offering many
affordable and flexible loan products to poor yet practically in Pakistan, only MIS system
and handheld calculators are used to support micro finance operations. In addition, ICT
can also help MFIs to expand their services coverage by providing logistical, strategic
and analytical support. So, ICT has an immense potential to support not only two crucial
issues of microfinance sector, (increasing outreach and increasing financial sustainability)
but also it will bring several benefits like breadth of market coverage as ICT based
delivery model will facilitate expansion in untapped rural territories and also depth of
market coverage by identifying new products and services. ICT innovations will be a key
strategy in efforts to take microfinance to the next level in terms of outreach and
sustainability.

Moreover, in Pakistan, majority of these microfinance organizations are donor funded,

which is an obstacle to their scalability and sustainability. ICT based initiatives (for
example smart cards, handhelds, modified ATMs) are instrumental in lowering down
transaction and overhead cost and expanding the availability of microfinance. As the
world of micro finance is discerning a paradigm shift towards profit oriented commercial
model from donor led model, it is pertinent to develop ICT based sustenance to change
delivery model for microfinance. This new ICT based delivery model will propose a
definite framework for outreach and sustainability whose social benefits will be measured
in terms of quality and usefulness of microfinance services, cost of operations, depth and
breadth of micro finance products, length and scope of microfinance activities.
2. Thesis Motivation
According to statistics, about three billion people in this world are living on less than two
dollar per day. Moreover, The United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
have stimulated the world with a challenge to improve the welfare of the poorest of the
poor. Since last three decades, microfinance is positioned as a development tool to reduce
poverty on global level and many multilateral lending agencies, bilateral donor agencies,
developing and developed country governments, and non-government organizations
(NGOs) are supporting the development of microfinance. Despite this growth, outreach
and financial sustainability of microfinance is a great matter to be discussed. It is
estimated that about 95 percent of some 180 million poor households in the Asian and
Pacific Region still have little access to institutional financial services. Access to services
and offering banking operations at the very door step of poor are those two big questions
that call reengineering of delivery mechanism and also range of microfinance products
customized according to the need of a particular society.
In Pakistan, there are certain gaps on supply side of microfinance services that is evident
from outreach statistics. I intend to look for the best practices for these gaps and then
examining the role of ICT for recuperating these gaps. In this context, I will explore
electronic banking for remote areas and what kind of results have been obtained so far
and what is the potential ramifications of this for Pakistan for quite long term growth and
sustainability of this sector.
In Pakistan like many other many areas of the world, only MIS system and handheld
computers are being used in microfinance sector. In some other parts like in India and
Latin American countries, other ICT applications are used on limited scale and a
differentiation edge is taken. No one can deny that ICT innovations would be a key
strategy for development of E-banking services for microfinance sector. This will change
business models, range of services and methodologies that are the central to microfinance
sector. Furthermore, ICT innovations will help commercial banks to do microfinance
more profitably. Thus, it is a dire need to rethink delivery model for microfinance
services and particularly a delivery model for commercial banks that have already big
setups in different countries. Realizing this challenge many research work is going to
induce ICT in microfinance but this is a need of time to consider a holistic approach for
rethinking delivery model for financial services.

3. Research Question
Currently, this is a zenith stage for technological revolution showing technological and
economic success for advanced countries while the rest of world finds themselves trapped
in the vicious cycle of poverty. Microfinance is considered a major tool to cope with
poverty issues. This is a high time to use ICT platform for increasing outreach and
financial sustainability of microfinance in Pakistan.
This thesis will explore the answers of the following questions.
1- In Pakistan, how ICT can be instrumental to the future direction of Microfinance

initiatives by changing its delivery model. The cost of microfinance services in
rural and far flung areas is high due to lack of infrastructure, high operating cost
and management of operations. Is ICT based delivery model a promising solution
for breadth and depth of microfinance services to this problem?
2- What is the current microfinance services delivery model prevalent in Pakistan

what are the challenges and barriers in getting financial services by poor and what
kind of ICT best suits the underlying environment in Pakistan.
3- What opportunities does exist in Pakistan for offering other microfinance products
(except micro credit) to fill the microfinance gap through ICT based delivery
model.
4- How Government of Pakistan can support E- banking model for microfinance

operations in rural and far flung areas of Pakistan.

4. Thesis Objectives
This thesis project aims at achieving following objectives/ milestones.
1. Study and analyze microfinance market in Pakistan. What kinds of services are
currently offered in Pakistan? What is the condition of demand and supply side in
Pakistan? What is a true picture of growth and trends for microfinance products in
Pakistan?
2. What kind of financial services are offered for the poor in Pakistan. What is the
supply leading and poverty lending approaches prevalent in Pakistan? What is the
demand driven and financial system approaches are currently used in Pakistan.
3. What are the challenges for rural finance in Pakistan? What are the barriers to
access financial services in Pakistan by poor?
4. What kind of ICT innovations are being used in microfinance in different parts of
the world and how ICT is a strategic tool for making microfinance institutions
more efficient and effective.
5. What are the reasons for facing difficulties for getting right ICT based solutions in
Pakistan.
6. What will be complete architecture for ICT based delivery system. What are
important issues for its development and commercialization in Pakistan?
7. What kind of different microfinance products can be offered by ICT based

delivery model and what will be new methodology to offer new microfinance
services in Pakistan.
8. What are Pakistani government policy issues regarding financial system stability
for building institutional capacity and regulation and supervision issues regarding
E-Banking model for microfinance.
9. What are social and political motivations for developing this new model so
Government of Pakistan supports building this model?

5. Research Methodology
To answer the above mentioned questions, following research methodology will be used.
5.1 Secondary Research Sources

Extensive secondary research will be conducted about working of microfinance
institutions in Pakistan, current outreach, comparison of different major delivery
models prevailing in the world and the use of ICT in microfinance operations in
different countries.
5.2 Focused Group

Discussions with a sample of experts from banks, NGOs, government officials to get
the meaningful insights about reality picture in Pakistan. Structured Interview
technique will be used for this.
5.3 Field Survey

Field surveys by using snowball sampling techniques in different areas of Pakistan to
have a clear understanding for building the architecture for ICT based delivery model.
A valid and reliable research instrument (Questionnaire) would be developed to get
information from field. The samples would be selected in following ways.
Respondents would be divided into 2 categories.
Group 1: This group will consist of those persons who are directly availing formal
and informal microfinance services.
Group 2: This group will consist of different family members who are using financial
services.

6. Expected Results
1. To provide a clear understanding of challenges and barriers faced by poor in

Pakistan to access microfinance services.
2. To furnish demand & supply analysis of microfinance market in Pakistan. This
will be instrumental for developing new microfinance products.
3. To provide a complete architecture for ICT based microfinance delivery model
focusing on Pakistani market needs but also can be used in rural parts of the
developing world.
4. To open new opportunities for ICT entrepreneurs in Pakistan to develop
customized products being used for ICT based delivery model.
5. To reduce existing loan administration cost and overhead cost. In addition to this,
Microfinance companies will get logistic, strategic and analytical support by
using this new delivery model.
7. Beneficiaries
Primarily, this thesis report is for academic usage but secondly, it can be a valuable
guideline for different stakeholders not only in Pakistan but also across the globe where
the issue of increasing microfinance outreach and sustainability is a matter of discussion
and that is a certain global agenda pertaining to microfinance sector.
Following stakeholders in Pakistan can find this thesis a valuable resource.
1. Government financial policy makers who have a vision to get poor class of
Pakistan in the main financial stream.
2. Microfinance Institutions who intend to develop a village banking model to tap
the big untapped market.
3. Pakistan Microfinance network, which is a network of different leading
microfinance institutions that are dedicated to improving the outreach and
sustainability of microfinance services in Pakistan.
4. Internet service providers
5. Telecom Network Operators
6. Other ICT entrepreneurs
7. Household users of microfinance products in urban and rural areas.
8. Ministry of local government and rural development in Pakistan.

8. Thesis organization
This thesis project will be completed according to the rules of master thesis work at KTH,
School of information and communication technology. The thesis will be completed in
Pakistan by student researcher in collaboration with Pakistan Microfinance Network, a
network of 19 member micro finance organizations (retail microfinance organizations,
NGOs, donor agencies).
Researcher
Asif Yaseen.
Master Student in ICT Entrepreneurship
E-mail: asify@kth.se
Supervisor-1
Dr. Terrence Brown
Telecommunication System Lab
School of Information and communication technology, KTH
E-mail: terrence@kth.se
Supervisor-2
Lena Ramfelt
E-mail: lenar@stanford.edu
Examiner
Dr. Terrence Brown
E-mail: terrence@kth.se

9. Thesis Methodology
Here is a sequence for the execution of project activities. It is important to note that
execution process for different stages may be iterative as uncertainty prevails when we
solve real world problems.
Different stages of this thesis project are as follows,
9.1 Proposal Stage

Following activities will be carried out,
1. Finalize the draft for detailed project plan after a number of meetings with
supervisor and examiner.
2. Discussing and concluding the project objectives and milestones.
3. Making project website, uploading final project specification and a detailed plan
with GANTT chart.
9.2 Literature Review Stage

This stage covers extensive readings on
1. Existing microfinance delivery models
2. Use of ICT in microfinance
3. Exploring ICT technology that may be used
4. Statistics related to outreach of microfinance operations in Pakistan
5. Financial regulatory framework prevalent in Pakistan
6. Different types of microfinance products offered in Pakistan at current time.
9.3 Design Stage

This stage encompasses extensive field survey, focused group studies from different
organizations like commercial microfinance banks (First Microfinance Bank Ltd, Tameer
Bank), NGOs, personnel’s from telecom operators and financial regulatory body of
Pakistan. In addition to this, this phase also includes building architecture for ICT based
microfinance model.
9.4 Documentation Stage

This stage focuses on putting all the secondary data and primary data collected during
focused groups discussions and field survey in a report form to present to examiner and
also used by any interested microfinance platform.
9.5 Presentation Stage

This project would be presented to examiner and other interested participants for
academic usage.

10. Deliverables
This thesis will furnish following important deliverables as progress goes on according to
different stages.
10.1 Project website

This is a space for all kind of documentation pertaining to this thesis. This will exhibit the
complete process of furnishing different types of deliverables. Any concerned and
interested person can access
1. What has been delivered?
2. What is in the pipeline?
3. Time frame for past and upcoming events.
10.2 Final Version of Project Plan

After detailed meetings with supervisor and examiner, a project plan with table of
contents for different areas to be covered during research will be uploaded on thesis
website. Again it is important to note that real world problem solving requires some
changes according to time frame that would be adjusted accordingly.
10.3 Literature Review Report 1 (Microfinance Models & Products)

This report will include secondary research related different microfinance delivery
models and microfinance products prevalent in the world and especially in Pakistan. This
also entails challenges and gaps related to rural finance issues in Pakistan.
10.4 Literature Review Report 2 (Financial Regulatory framework related to

microfinance in Pakistan)
This report will describe Pakistani government financial regulation policy related to
microfinance. It will be analyzed what kind of challenges and opportunities posed by
regulatory framework.
10.5 Literature Review Report 3 (ICT Innovations in Microfinance)

This report will consist of uses of different ICT innovations in microfinance delivery
models that are being used in different parts of the world. This will also include what
kind of ICT innovations are currently being used in Pakistan. T
10.6 ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model

After field study, this report will provide an open design for ICT based microfinance
delivery model in Pakistan and this also includes factors influencing the design and
choice of system architecture.
10.7 Project Draft Prototype

A detailed report containing precise and analytical information will be submitted to
examiner and supervisor for constructive improvements.
10.8 Final Project Report

After remodeling report, the final version will be uploaded on thesis website; Final copy
will be mailed to examiner, supervisor and opponent.

10.9 Presentation
The researcher is ready for defending his research work and for oral presentation. The
researcher will be open to any kind of questions to his examiner, opponent and other
participants.
11. Gantt chart
Here is a detailed schedule for key activities to be completed during this research thesis.
Moreover, starting time, finish time and time span for each activity is listed. In this Gantt
chart activities are assigned numbers and listed horizontally and time is shown in weeks
and depicted vertically.
Time Schedule for project activities
Time/ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Key
Activities
Week 30
Week 31
Week 32
Week 33
Week 34
Week 35
Week 36
Week 37
Week 38
Week 39
Week 40
Week 41
Week 42
Week 43
Week 44
Week 45
Week 46
Week 47
Week 48
Week 49
Week 50

11.1 Key Activities for Project
1. Thesis Website and detailed Project Plan

2. Familiarize with different microfinance models and financial products offered in
this domain.
3. Developing questionnaire for focused group interview.
4. Analysis of microfinance markets in Pakistan. This analysis includes different
services offered, demand and supply side, growth and trends for microfinance
products in Pakistan.
5. Study ICT innovations in microfinance markets in the world and also in Pakistan.
6. Developing questionnaire for field survey.
7. Study microfinance regulatory and policy framework in Pakistan.
8. Design of ICT based microfinance delivery model.
9. Initial draft of report.
10. Final Draft of report.
11. Presentation.
11.2 Important Dates and Milestones
Pre-planning work:
18 June: Approval from Examiner, Dr. Terrence Brown for domain and area for working
on master thesis work.
22 June: Registration of thesis work in KTH Enrollment system.
25 June-15 July: Initial contacts to Pakistan Microfinance Network, a network of
practitioners of microfinance for initial discussions for developing research questions.
Crude search on internet related to social entrepreneurship domain and microfinance area.
Project Starting Date: July 23, 2007 (Week 30)
30 July: First draft of thesis plan was finalized and mailed to examiner and supervisor for
approval.
07 August: Feedback on first draft of project plan.
14 August: Deadline for producing and uploading the final draft for project plan.
20 August: Submission of questionnaire for focused group discussion for supervisor
feedback.
24 August: Submission of final draft of literature review report 1 about microfinance
models and products.
03 September: Submission of final draft of literature review report 2 about use of ICT
products in microfinance.
14 September: Submission of questionnaire for field survey for supervisor feedback.
20 September: Submission of final draft of literature review report 3 about financial
regulatory framework related to microfinance.
05 October: Submission of report related to focused group discussions.
22 October: Completion of field survey.
12 November: Deadline for architecture of ICT based microfinance model.

26 November: Submission of first draft for thesis work.

05 December: Submission of final draft for thesis work.
14 December: Final presentation of thesis work at KTH.
Project Finished Date: Dec 14, 2007 (Week 50)

12. Risk Analysis
This thesis is related to solving a real world problem so definitely certain risks are
involved due to uncertainty. Here is a detailed analysis of risk events, probability that is
denoted by ‘P’, effects that is denoted by ‘E’ and their mutual risk index is the
multiplication of probability and Effect of any risk.
Expected Risks
No Risk Event Probability (P) Effect (E) Risk index

(PxE)
1 Precise and accurate information 2 4 8
about Microfinance models and
products are not available.
2 NGOs reluctance to provide 3 4 12

information related to use of ICT
products in microfinance outreach
3 Delay in response from Pakistani 3 4 12

Microfinance organization and
companies are not willing to
provide outreach statistics.
4 Communication problem with 4 4 16
stakeholders and delay in getting
appointment time for focused group
interview.
5 Lack of cooperation from public 4 2 8
sector in Pakistan.
6 Communication problems in field 3 4 12

survey and unwillingness of
common households to provide
accurate information.
7 Due to cost and time for extensive 3 3 9
traveling, may be a homogenous
survey
8 If due to any uncertain reason one 2 3 6
milestone takes longer time than
expected
9 Unanticipated work load 2 3 6

Following are the mitigation strategies and contingency plans for the above mentioned
risks.
Risks Analysis
No Risk Event Mitigations Strategy Contingency Plan

1 Precise and accurate Getting help from Pakistan Redefining project plan scope.
information about Microfinance Network.
Microfinance models and
products are not available.
2 NGOs reluctance to provide Using personal references Exploring the websites of those
information related to use of to approach microfinance organizations whose outreach is
ICT products in microfinance companies and NGOs. greater or search for alternatives
outreach not those who are originally
included in sample.
3 Delay in response from Fixing the problem by Redefining project plan to change
Pakistani Microfinance negotiation and using the area of working.
organization and companies facilitators to get
are not willing to provide information.
outreach statistics.
4 Communication problem with Setup meetings well before Using references to get time and
stakeholders and delay in time. plan out telephonic and e-mail
getting appointment time for conversation.
focused group interview.
5 Lack of cooperation from Attempt to get publicly Exploring alternatives if possible.
public sector in Pakistan. available reports for
Pakistani statistics.
6 Communication problems in Creating awareness among Changes in sampling technique
field survey and unwillingness poor communities by and using accidental and
of common households to personal counseling. judgmental sampling techniques.
provide accurate information.
7 Due to cost and time for Relying on existingFor Focused group discussion only
extensive traveling, may be a information collected from telephonic interview technique
homogenous survey is not member organizations of will be used. And for field survey
possible. Pakistan Microfinance a small number of easily
Network. approached areas only in Punjab
and Sindh provinces will be
selected from four provinces of
Pakistan.
8 If due to any uncertain reason Putting extra efforts to keep Make changes and specify project
one milestone takes longer delay off. plan accordingly.
time than expected
9 Unanticipated work load Putting extra efforts to Make changes and specify project
keep delay off. plan accordingly.

13. Conclusion
The primary focus of thesis project is to deliver an ICT based solution for remodeling
microfinance delivery system in Pakistan that will increase outreach of microfinance
operations not only in urban areas but also in the rural areas of Pakistan. This will be
based on those technologies that are highly suitable for rural areas of Pakistan. This is not
an easy task without realizing challenges faced by field survey, focused group
discussions and regulatory framework view about using ICT innovations in microfinance.
14. References
1- Barton and Marshall Bear. April, 1999, Information and Communications

Technologies: Are They the Key to Viable Business Development Services for
Micro and Small Enterprises?
2- Mathison, S. (2005), Increasing the outreach and sustainability of microfinance
through ICT innovation, draft.
3- Cracknell, D. (2004). Electronic Banking for the Poor: Panacea, Potential and
pitfalls. Website: www.microsave.org
4- Janine Firpo, SEMBA Consulting, Banking the unbanked: Technology, s role in
delivering accessible financial services to the poor.
5- Whelan, S. (2003), CGAP IT Innovation Series: Smart Cards. Retrieved August,
2005.
6- Mark Schreiner, June 1999, “Aspects of Outreach: A framework for the
discussion of the social benefits of Microfinance”, Center for Social
Development, Washington University, St.Louis, USA.
7- Asian Development Bank, 2000, Finance for the Poor: Microfinance development
Strategy.
8- Social Enterprise Associates, Microfinance: Sustainable tool for Urban Poverty
Alleviation, policy working paper no. 06.
9- Claessens, S., Glaessner, T., & Klingebiel,D.(2001). E-Finance in Emerging
Markets: Is Leapfrogging Possible? (Financial Sector Discussion Paper No.07).
Washington, DC, World Bank.
10- “Pakistan Microfinance Network”, website; http://www.pmn.org.pk/.

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Thesis Proposal

ICT based Microfinance Services Delivery Model

Owner: Asif Yaseen asify@kth.se

Master of ICT Entrepreneurship

Timeline: July 23 to December14, 2007

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

Document Name Version Number Start Date Submission Date

Thesis Proposal 1.0 July 23, 2007 July 30, 2007

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

Domain: Social Entrepreneurship

Area: Micro finance outreach & Sustainability, breadth and depth of

Context: Information & Communication Technologies

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

1- Building information networks in far flung areas.

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

Moreover, in Pakistan, majority of these microfinance organizations are donor funded,

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

This thesis will explore the answers of the following questions.

1- In Pakistan, how ICT can be instrumental to the future direction of Microfinance

2- What is the current microfinance services delivery model prevalent in Pakistan

4- How Government of Pakistan can support E- banking model for microfinance

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

This thesis project aims at achieving following objectives/ milestones.

7. What kind of different microfinance products can be offered by ICT based

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

5.1 Secondary Research Sources

5.2 Focused Group

5.3 Field Survey

Respondents would be divided into 2 categories.

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

1. To provide a clear understanding of challenges and barriers faced by poor in

Following stakeholders in Pakistan can find this thesis a valuable resource.

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

Different stages of this thesis project are as follows,

9.1 Proposal Stage

9.2 Literature Review Stage

9.3 Design Stage

9.4 Documentation Stage

9.5 Presentation Stage

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

10.1 Project website

10.2 Final Version of Project Plan

10.3 Literature Review Report 1 (Microfinance Models & Products)

10.4 Literature Review Report 2 (Financial Regulatory framework related to

10.5 Literature Review Report 3 (ICT Innovations in Microfinance)

10.6 ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model

10.7 Project Draft Prototype

10.8 Final Project Report

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

11. Gantt chart

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

11.1 Key Activities for Project

1. Thesis Website and detailed Project Plan

11.2 Important Dates and Milestones

Project Starting Date: July 23, 2007 (Week 30)

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

26 November: Submission of first draft for thesis work.

Project Finished Date: Dec 14, 2007 (Week 50)

ICT based Microfinance Delivery Model, Action Plan for Pakistan

12. Risk Analysis

No Risk Event Probability (P) Effect (E) Risk index

2 NGOs reluctance to provide 3 4 12