The document discusses mobile money and social networks in Somalia. It provides context on the volatile political and security situation in Somalia and Kenya. It then examines the role of hawala networks and mobile money systems like M-Pesa in facilitating remittances and trade. Charts show the exchange market in Eastleigh, Nairobi and the relationships between different actors. Gender differences in investment approaches and assets are also noted. The conclusion discusses cultivating multiplicity and flexibility as strategies for coping with uncertainty.

1. Centre of African Studies
University of Edinburgh
Gianluca Iazzolino
Mobile money and Somali social networks
Cultivating monetary alternatives in a
volatile world
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money Trends &
Innovation

2. Fast Money
Medium Money
Slow Money
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

3. Eastleigh – Mogadishu Kidogo
Cheap stuff
remittances
Somali diaspora
trade
investments
Kenyan Somalis
transnational networks
refugees
Money laundering
Low-end globalization
Terrorist hideout
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

4. Somali Presidential
Elections
Volatile Times
10 Sep
Attack on the
Anglican
Church of
Kenya,
Juja road
30 Sep
IED detonated on a
passenger bus, ten
dead
12 Nov
GoK Directive
ordering refugees
encampment
13 Dec
Explosion
outside
the Hidaya
mosque:
five dead
Kenyan General
Elections
4 Mar
Kenya
Supreme
Court rules
against
GoK
directive
Westgate Mall Attack
12 Aug
21 Sep
7 Dec
2012
Sep
Nov
Jan
2013
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Flight of Somali
refugees and capital
from Eastleigh
Hawala company
Dahabshiil granted
reprieve
21 Jan
5 Nov
Barclay UK announces
it will be closing MTO
accounts in Britain,
including Dahabshiil,
by August 31 2013
Barclay's decision
postponed
30 Aug
15 May
SS CB announces
restrictions on the
allocation of hard currency
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
2013
Nov
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation
15 Jun

5. Terrorism financing
Hawala
Lifeline
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

6. A Network of Providers of
Banking Services
Terrorism financing
Hawala
Lifeline
A Network of
Providers of
Investment Services
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
A Credit/Debt Transfer
System
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

7. A Network of Providers of
Banking Services
Terrorism financing
under scrutiny
cheap
multicurrency
Hawala
Lifeline
A Network of
Providers of
Investment Services
international
A Credit/Debt Transfer
System
large amount of money
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
no ID required
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

8. Safe
Private
Flexible
Technical/cultural
barriers for seniors
KSh
Small money
vulnerable to monitoring
ID required
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

9. Hawala/M-Pesa relations
Replacement
Informal Inter-Operability
December 4-5 2013
UC Irvine
IMTFI's Fifth Annual Conference for
Funded Researchers

10. Eastleigh’s Exchange Market
Hawala
agents
KSh
USD
KSH
USD
USD
Customers
KSh
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation
Money vendors

11. Eastleigh’s Exchange Market
Hawala
agents
KSH
KSh
USD
USD
USD
Customers
KSh
KSH
KSh
Gold sellers
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation
Money vendors

12. Eastleigh’s Exchange Market
investors
Wholesalers
USD
KSh
USD
Hawala
agents
Various businesses
USD
KSh
KSH
KSh
USD
USD
M-Pesa agents
KSH
USD
Customers
KSh
KSH
KSH
KSh
Gold sellers
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation
Money vendors

13. “Gendered” values and temporal axis
Men
Livestock
Long
Term
Big Businesses
(oil, transport...)
Medium Businesses
(Wholesalers)
Short
Term
Hard Currencies
Mobile Money
Small Businesses
(Retailers)
Local Currencies
Camel Milk Trade
Gold
Women
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation

14. Cultivation of multiplicity
or
“You never know what may happen tomorrow”
Mobility as a self-perpetuating strategy, revolving around the pursuit of
resources that allow crossing borders, boundaries and thresholds (documents
- ID, passports, UNHCR mandates, degrees – and hard currencies)
December 4-5 2013
UC Irvine
IMTFI's Fifth Annual Conference for
Funded Researchers

15. What Next?
?
November 20 2013 iHub
Nairobi
Afrikoin Emerging Africa Digital Money
Trends & Innovation