-
In Myanmar, Microfinance Stagnates Due to Tough Rules
The domestic microfinance industry is being held back by a number of constraints on funding, preventing more small-scale loans from being disbursed, according to industry insiders.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance, regulations
-
Social Investment Problems Include ‘Too Much Hype and Hubris and Not Enough Transparency’ Says Report
Social investment in the UK requires less hype, more transparency from lenders and more focus on the needs of charities and social enterprises if it is going to succeed, according to a commission of thinkers and practitioners in the world of social finance.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
-
WHO, UNOPS Sign Agreement to Scale-Up Partnership in Africa’s Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to intensify collaboration on sustainable management of health programs and projects in Africa.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- infrastructure
-
Think Bigger: Social Entrepreneurship’s Critical Need for Accelerators
Prossy Sebunya has a passion for clean cook stoves -- a technology that’s critical in third-world countries, where fuel is an expensive commodity, wood fires lead to deforestation and unhealthy conditions prevent sanitary food preparation.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
New Chinese Bank Becomes Major Headache for U.S.
Another day, it seems, brings another new member to China's latest big international initiative: a new development bank for Asia.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
Doctor-Turned-Entrepreneur Bullish About Ethiopia’s Healthcare Sector
As Africa’s second most populous country, Ethiopia’s healthcare industry holds significant potential. According to Dr Mohammed Nuri (42), founder and CEO of local pharmaceutical company Medtech Ethiopia, the industry commands more than 18bn Ethiopian birr (about US$881m) in annual sales. In recent years imports from abroad have risen, while foreign investors have entered partnerships with local players.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Interview: India in Strong Position as the ‘Laboratory for Innovation’, Says Acumen’s Ajit Mahadevan
Ajit Mahadevan, Country Head, Acumen, tells Sarika Malhotra that the company's aim in investing patient capital is not to seek high returns, "but to jump-start the creation of enterprises that improve the ability of the poor to live with dignity. In the long-run we do aim to see a return of our capital". Acumen has been investing in India since 2001 and has backed 26 companies across portfolios, including low-cost maternity care, skills training and education, water filtration enterprises and more. In addition to providing patient capital to investee companies, it has also invested in human capital and a wide range of management support services to help the companies scale up.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Region
- South Asia
-
Indian Payments Company Oxigen Eyeing Up to $200 Million Expansion Drive
Payment solutions provider Oxigen is on a major expansion drive that includes hiring about 1,500 people and ramping up its payment network across semi-urban and rural India. The firm is also eyeing a large share of the remittances market and prepares the ground for launching a payments bank.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia