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• Village Phone Direct Manual – Enabling microfinance institutions to bring affordable communication services to the poor
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • Foreword
  • Welcome
  • Part One: The Village Phone Model
    • A Village Phone Success Story
    • Benefits of the Village Phone Model
      • Benefits to the Microfinance Institution
      • Benefits to the Village Phone Operator
      • Benefits to the Customer
    • Village Phone and Village Phone Direct
    • Roles and Responsibilities in Village Phone Direct
    • The Village Phone Business Kit
    • Village Phone Communications Technology
      • Antenna as signal booster
      • Antenna to catch the Line Of Sight
    • Power technologies
      • Automobile Battery Solution
      • Solar-Power Solution
      • AA Battery Solution
      • Crank Power
  • Part Two: Village Phon e Direct Step-by-Step
    • Step 1: Get Institutional Commitment
    • Step 2: Assess Demand and Survey the Environment
      • Legal and business assessment
      • Geographical compatibility assessment
      • Village Phone Operator interest assessment
    • Step 3: Create a Business and Financial Model
      • Village Phone Operator business model
      • Financial modalities
    • Step 4: Select equipment and define sourcing
      • The phone handset with earpiece
      • External antenna, coupler and cables
      • Recharging solution Automobile Battery
      • Airtime
      • Marketing collateral
      • Documentation
      • Equipment warranty and repair
    • Step 5: Select Operators
      • Selecting the Village Phone Operator is critical
      • Selection criteria
      • Geographic distribution
    • Step 6: Develop an Operating Manual and Training Curriculum
      • Village Phone Operator training outline At deployment and establishment of a NEW Village Phone business
    • Step 7: Run a Pilot Program
    • Step 8: Market Village Phone
      • Personal contact
      • Advertising
      • Special promotions
      • Sponsorships
    • Step 9: Become an Airtime Distributor (Optional)
      • Airtime options
      • Distributor or Sub-Distributor
      • Financing the buying of airtime
      • Commissions
    • Step 10: Demand Management
      • Forecasting
      • Importance of cash flow
      • Bottlenecks/constraints
      • Equipment order and acquisition process for microfinance institutions
      • Demand management for Village Phone Operators
    • Step 11: Deployment
      • Staffing
      • Growth planning
    • Step 12: Ongoing Operations
      • Identify and resolve problems
      • Ongoing strategic planning process
      • Document business processes
  • Conclusion
  • Appendixes
    • Appendix A: Sample Surveys
    • Appendix B: Pilot Phase Plan and Agreement Template
    • Appendix C: Stock Forecasting
    • Appendix D: Geographical Forecasting
    • Appendix E: Skymasts Antenna Specification
    • Appendix F: Airtime Access
    • Appendix G: Signage Solutions
    • Appendix H: Operating Manual for Village Phone Operators
      • 1.0 WELCOME
      • 2.0 OBLIGATIONS OF A VILLAGE PHONE OPERATOR
      • 3.0 EQUIPMENT
      • 4.0 RUNNING YOUR VILLAGE PHONE BUSINESS
      • 5.0 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ISSUES
      • CALL LOG
      • SAMPLE RETAIL MARGINS
      • IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
      • BATTERY CHARGING LOG
      • INTERNATIONAL DIALING CODES
      • HOW TO USE ADDITIONAL MENU FEATURES
      • POINTS TO REMEMBER
    • Appendix I: Phone Reference Guide
      • REFERENCE GUIDE ():
      • Call Tariffs
      • East Africa calling prefixes
      • Remember!
    • Appendix J: Reference Manual Template addressed to the Microfinance Field Officers
      • THE HELPLINE REFERENCE MANUAL
    • Appendix K: How to procure kits elements