Behavioural solutions
Overview
Genesis recognises that certain problems in commerce and development demand an expert understanding of human behaviour. Moreover, the quality of traditional solutions can often be dramatically improved by incorporating behavioural expertise. Behavioural Solutions at Genesis combines expertise in economics, psychology, anthropology and sociology to unlock value.
Areas of Expertise
Applied behavioural economics
Behavioural economics is a powerful field that combines economics and psychology to influence behaviour and improve decision-making for the better through low-cost, high-impact, easy-to-implement interventions. Genesis Analytics created the first team of consultants in Africa in 2014 to use a scientific understanding of human behaviour to solve practical problems in the world of business.
Behavioural sciences
Insights from behavioural sciences foster an understanding of human behaviour within given contexts that allow us to design systems or interventions that result in behaviour change. The behavioural sciences is an umbrella term that draws on psychology, anthropology, cognitive science, behavioural economics (BE), and social and behavioural change communication (SBCC). Our work builds on the evidence base provided by behavioural sciences and applies it to effect behaviour change in wide-ranging contexts or settings. We use our deep sector expertise and experience in applying behavioural sciences insights to influence behaviour through communication, interventions, processes and systems. We design and deliver human-centred systems and processes, and effect scalable, sustainable behaviour change along the full impact pathway.
Projects
Taking applied behavioural economics online for retail shopping
Genesis Analytics’ Applied Behavioural Economics (ABE) team was retained to apply behavioural economics to a retailer’s online rewards platform as it shifted from the traditional bricks-and-mortar business to its redesigned e-commerce platform.
Improving SA's largest HIV prevention programme with behavioural economics
Genesis Analytics and the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) have been commissioned by the Gates Foundation to provide technical assistance to the South African Department of Health (DOH) to support the delivery of a key HIV prevention programme - the national Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) Programme.
Genesis helps business to return to work safely after lockdown
Genesis was retained by the Public-Private Growth Initiative (PPGI) to demystify and increase adherence to regulations on how to re-open the economy safely after lockdown and to remain open using insights from behavioural economics.
Insights drive uptake of financial products by smallholder farmers
Genesis Analytics was contracted by the Kenya Commercial Bank to undertake an impact evaluation of MobiGrow, a product that targets agricultural value chain actors to offer mobile-based financial inclusion and information to smallholder farmers and pastoralists in Kenya and Rwanda.
Behavioural campaigns lift loans response rates by 102%
A large financial institution approached the Applied Behavioural Economics (ABE) team to increase the response rates for one of its financial services campaigns. Behavioural economics principles were successfully applied to optimise various existing customer communication channels throughout the personal loan take-up/uptake journey.
Scaling up male circumcision in SA to prevent HIV infections
Genesis was awarded three-year contract from The Gates Foundation to provide technical assistance to the South African national medical male circumcision (MMC) programme to build resilient local systems that successfully plan, effectively manage and efficiently execute the programme at scale, and transition MMC toward sustainability in South Africa.
Related Focus Areas
Infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness
Reproductive, maternal, child health and nutrition
Health financing and health systems optimisation
Digital health and data transformation
Agriculture and agribusiness
Africa’s agricultural sector is critical to sustainable economic development. It supports economic opportunities in rural communities, the alleviation of poverty and plays an essential role in food security. Genesis works across the public-private interface for governments, donors, philanthropic and private sector clients.
Unlocking the sector’s potential requires a combination of political will, enabling regulatory frameworks, improved access to finance, skills investment and climate change adaptation. An understanding of these interlocking factors underpins our approach to programme design and implementation.
Communications and broadcasting
We work with governments and regulators to cut through the complexities of digital markets and ensure that digital policy and regulation are fit for purpose, striking the optimal balance between intervention and innovation. Our work includes all aspects of governance and economic regulation including competition, digital rights, data protection and privacy, consumer protection, e-commerce, economic structure and digital trade.
Health
We help to strengthen and support sustainable, country-owned health systems that can deliver positive, equitable health outcomes.
We bring deep knowledge and understanding of local contexts and combine this with technical and operational excellence. Our focus is on Africa and other countries with growing young populations across Asia and the Middle East.
Our technical areas of expertise include:
Human Development
We work for a world where everyone can develop to their full potential. We are focused on expanding meaningful rights and opportunities for people who are marginalised. Part of a global African firm, we are particularly committed to children, women and young people in Africa and the Middle East.
We work in key human development areas: health, nutrition, and WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene); youth, education and early childhood development; and social protection and social care. Rapid changes in demography, climate and technology are generating massive challenges and tremendous opportunities for human development. At the same time, Covid-19 has caused a severe shock to human development from which people and systems need to recover.
We help governments, their global partners, and private and non-state clients to improve the delivery of key human development services while navigating these changes. To do so, we provide services in diagnostics; regulation, governance and oversight; strategy, planning and implementation; financing and budgeting; service delivery; and monitoring and evaluation.
Financial Services Strategy
Our Financial Services team has completed more than 1000 projects across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East since 2001. We work with leading financial institutions to address their challenges, unlock value for their stakeholders and shape the future of the industry.
Our team understands the evolving technology and market structures, economics and regulatory trends across all segments of the financial services sector. Our distinct approach is characterised by deep specialisation and rigorous analysis based on a strong economics foundation.