Implementing a quantitative consumer survey on remittances

It is estimated that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) receives just under $2 billion in remittances from overseas every year, accounting for about 4% of GDP, as well as sizeable domestic transfers. These funds act as a lifeline to many recipients, especially for vulnerable populations such as refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), of which the country has over 5 million. Based on the potential to help these two groups of forcibly displaced persons, two United Nations agencies, the Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Human Rights Commission (UNHCR), jointly commissioned Digital Disruptions to conduct a comprehensive country assessment to help build accessible and affordable remittances for the target population.

Approach & Outcome

Digital Disruptions designed and launched a survey of over 650 respondents in refugee camps, host communities, and rural areas in four provinces of the country to better understand remittance preferences, usage patterns, and key obstacles. Concurrently, the firm’s local team interviewed banks, mobile money operators, and Money Transfer Organizations to gauge their perspectives on designing remittances for refugees and IDPs. The team also evaluated if current regulations were providing an enabling environment for providers to do so.

The study offered key recommendations to regulators (such as mandating open telecom infrastructure for financial services) and to industry service providers (such as to create a viable international transfer product for refugees). It also speculated on several scenarios of how the COVID-19 pandemic may influence remittance trends.