Achieving Sustainability in Sudan Through Microfinance and Mobile Banking

Abstract

This study attempts to apply significant knowledge economy drivers of information and communications technology (ICT) to the implementation of mobile banking (M-bank) in order to increase the outreach for Sudanese microfinance. Access to financial service is key for economic development and poverty alleviation. Microfinance is one way of fighting poverty in Sudan. Despite initial results showing the positive impact of microfinance on livelihoods of low-income people, around 8 million Sudanese remain excluded from microfinance services. One potential remedy for the limited outreach of microfinance lies in the utilization of modern technology such as the use of M-banking technology by microfinance service providers (MFPs). This chapter examines the factors that influence the adoption of M-banking by the microfinance sector in Sudan. Hypotheses are guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and technology-organization-environment (TOE) models. Primary data was collected from MFPs and microfinance customers using questionnaires and interviews.