Abstract
The global challenge of financial exclusion continues to limit economic opportunities for millions of individuals, especially in low-income and underbanked communities. Traditional financial institutions rely on credit histories, collateral, and stable employment, which prevents many people from accessing essential financial services. In response, mobile-based digital technologies have emerged as scalable solutions to expand access to credit. However, these systems do more than provide financial services. They shape how individuals experience borrowing, repayment, and financial responsibility. The broader research problem addressed in this thesis focuses on how mobile microlending systems expand financial access while also influencing behavior and redistributing power through their design.
The technical component of this thesis presents the design and development of a secure, mobile-based microlending platform that improves loan management, usability, and data protection. The platform will be built using React Native, Firebase, and PostgreSQL, and supports features such as user authentication, loan creation, repayment tracking, and analytics dashboards. It includes role-based access control, encrypted data storage, and real-time notifications to improve repayment visibility and user engagement. Testing showed that the system performs reliably, maintains strong security, and is easy to use, even for users with limited technical experience. This project demonstrates how modern software design can be used to build scalable and accessible financial tools that support both borrowers and lenders.
The STS research component examines how mobile microlending platforms act as sociotechnical systems that shape borrower behavior and economic power. Using perspectives from Science and Technology Studies and political economy, the paper argues that interface design, algorithmic decision-making, and data practices influence how users understand financial responsibility and control. While these platforms increase access to credit, they also reflect institutional priorities and create imbalances in power, often placing more responsibility on borrowers while maintaining control within the system. This research highlights the importance of transparency, accessibility, and user-centered design in financial technologies. Together, the technical and STS components show that engineering decisions have social consequences and should be designed to support both innovation and fairness.
