Objective
Drawing on research from AISMA (An Anthropological Investigation of Muscular Politics in South Asia) on systematic corruption and bossism we propose to develop a proof of concept which tests the technical feasibility and commercial viability of an innovative online digital lending platform (‘Village Invest, Inc.’). The proof of concept will take place over an eighteen-month period. The pilot testing will be conducted in India. ‘Village Invest’ is a start-up social enterprise that aims to provide low cost loans to marginalised groups in risky political economies. The incapacity of the current microfinance model to reach out to these sectors has been widely recognized. Local moneylenders often remain the only option. However, they charge exorbitant interest rates, spiralling the debts across generations and making them into chronically poor or bonded labourers. What is required is an alternative lending model which uses digital technology to reach out directly to unbanked people. This direct connection lowers costs tremendously, while increasing transparency and accountability. The inability of existing online lending platforms to operate such model in countries like India, derives primarily from the lack of enabling environments: how does one replicate a direct lending system in countries with widespread cultures of unaccountability? This is the challenge that AISMA research expertise will help to untangle though the development of a risk management framework which will consist of: (1) an ethnographically driven Risk Rating Tool, to identify loan-ready borrowers; and (2) a Technical Assistance Package, to build both borrowers and communities knowledge in loan administration. If commercially viable our model will create a prototype for accountable and high impact models of social investments to be replicated across the world.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology social issues corruption
- social sciences sociology governance crisis management
- social sciences economics and business economics political economy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2017-PoC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC1E 6BT LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.