Dr Sandar Win, the Research Centre Director of the ResCAFE, has worked with the Cherie Blair Foundation to study the Feasibility of Mobile Value Added Services in Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam.Through the project it was revealed that most of the businesses that make up the informal economy are run and led by women. Furthermore, researchers discovered that although most of these women do not have access to a bank account, they nearly always have access to a mobile phone. The project explored how mobile technologies could be used to support female business owners, many of whom face financial, social and geographic obstacles, particularly in areas where there has been conflict, like Myanmar.

The findings of the project show that the aspirations and trust that women have in government bodies play a key role in adopting new technologies and seeking help for external finance. Therefore, to support women through mobile technologies and promoting financial inclusion, these are they key factors that require addressing. The image below was taken during a fieldwork in post-conflict area in Myanmar-Thailand border for the study.