PROTOCOL: Advancing Agent Networks and Merchant Payments for Financial Inclusion in Low- and Middle-Income Countries...

Area of Science:

• Digital finance
• Financial inclusion
• Health systems strengthening

Background:

• Financial inclusion is crucial for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Agent networks and merchant payment systems are key delivery channels for digital financial services.
• Evidence on supply-side interventions to strengthen these systems is fragmented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify, map, and synthesize evidence on supply-side interventions for agent networks and merchant payment systems.
• To identify clusters of evidence for further synthesis (e.g., systematic reviews).
• To highlight evidence gaps for future research and evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Development of an Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) protocol.
• Systematic search and mapping of existing evidence.
• Categorization of evidence by intervention type, outcome domain, and study design.

Main Results:

• The EGM will provide a comprehensive overview of current evidence.
• It will identify areas with sufficient evidence for synthesis.
• It will pinpoint critical gaps requiring further primary research.

Conclusions:

• The EGM will inform evidence-based decision-making for policymakers, funders, and practitioners.
• It aims to strengthen inclusive and resilient digital financial service delivery systems in LMICs.
• This work supports the advancement of financial inclusion through improved supply-side interventions.