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Crédit Rural de Guinée Wins 6th European Microfinance Award, for Innovative Response to Ebola Outbreak
Crédit Rural de Guinée (CRG) has been announced as the winner of the 6 th European Microfinance Award, focusing this year on Microfinance in Post-disaster, Post-conflict Areas & Fragile States, for its innovative response to the Ebola outbreak in Guinea. The Award was presented during European Microfinance Week by Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, during a ceremony on 19th November held at the European Investment Bank Headquarters in Luxembourg.
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- Investing
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- Europe & Eurasia
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Report: Banks Have a $380 Billion Market Opportunity in Financial Inclusion
Banks can address an additional US$380 billion market in annual revenues by targeting micro-enterprises and bringing unbanked and underbanked adults into the formal financial system, according to a new report produced jointly by Accenture (NYSE:ACN), through Accenture Development Partnerships, and CARE International UK, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.
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- Uncategorized
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- Europe & Eurasia
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Wellcome’s £5 Billion Boost to British Science
A month out from the November spending review, Britain’s scientists are braced for bad news. Rumours continue to swirl about another five years of flat budgets,a likely merger of research councils, and the culling of other funding bodies. Next Monday, the pressure group Science is Vital is hosting a rally at Conway Hall in London where prominent voices from across the research community will spell out the case for public investment.
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- Education, Health Care
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- Europe & Eurasia
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- research
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Zurich Pledges to Focus 10% of Investments on Delivering ‘Positive Impact’
Insurance group Zurich has revealed plans to plough around $100m into companies and projects that have a positive environmental or social impact.
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- Environment, Impact Assessment
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- Europe & Eurasia
- Tags
- impact investing
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Report: Equity Crowdfunding Platforms ‘Crowding Out’ Banks, VCs & Angel Investors in the U.K.
Equity crowdfunding platforms are “crowding out” banks, venture capitalists and business angels in the UK, suggests a new paper published by researchers from the University of St Andrews and the University of Stirling. St. Andrews explains that UK startups are “embracing the £146 million Crowdcube economy.” Crowdcube may be the largest investment platform but other sites like Seedrs and SyndicateRoom are playing a significant role in this financial transition. The paper builds upon existing research in the space including, Mollick’s, Cambridge University and more.
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- Investing
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- Europe & Eurasia
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Millions of UK Pensions Exposed to ‘High-Risk’ Fossil Fuel Investments
Council pension funds in Britain have invested £14 billion in the fossil fuel sector, despite the fact these assets risk tumbling in value as the world grapples with climate change.
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- Energy, Environment
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Sustainable Development Goals Fail to Recognize Role of Business
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 associated targets fail to recognise the importance of business as a force for social change concludes a new report by the British Council and Social Enterprise UK (SEUK).
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- Environment, Health Care
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Why the United Nations Doesn’t Pay Its Interns
Given all the dark and terrible events happening around the world right now, the plight of a 22-year-old living in a tent in Geneva may seem fairly inconsequential. And yet, the story of David Hyde – an unpaid United Nations intern who set up camp by Lake Geneva to save money – has clearly struck a chord with many all around the world. It's already had some small consequences, too: Hyde has resigned from his internship due to the media pressure.
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
- Tags
- public policy