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‘Financial Inclusion for Sustainable Development’: European Microfinance Week Nov. 18th – 20th
European Microfinance Week is a major annual event featuring high level, in-depth discussions by all sectors of the European microfinance community. The conference, which will take place Nov. 18th – 20th in Luxembourg, will welcome over 400 top professionals in the industry, from several dozen countries. NextBillion will be a media partner at the event, providing live tweeting, blog coverage and interviews with key participants.
- Categories
- Finance, Impact Assessment, Technology
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How Does Economic Empowerment Happen? (Part 2): Tracking the progress of five female entrepreneurs as they take part in a fellowship and grow their businesses
For the next 15 months, the author will follow five women participating in the year-long Vital Voices GROW Fellowship as they undergo training while simultaneously juggling work and home responsibilities. The point is to, at the end, form some conclusions about what training practices bear replicating.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise
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Previewing the Biggest SOCAP Yet: 140+ sessions, 2,500+ attendees – here’s what’s on tap at this year’s event
On Oct. 6-9, SOCAP, the leading conference on social enterprise and impact investing, will gather over 2,500 attendees at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. SOCAP15 will feature more than 140 sessions for learning, connecting and meeting peers and potential partners. NextBillion will be a media partner at the event, and you can take advantage of the $500 discount on registration available to our readers until Sept. 30.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- impact investing
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How Does Economic Empowerment Happen? (Part 1): Listening for answers as five women participate in the Vital Voices GROW Fellowship
This article launches a series on entrepreneurs as part of a wider movement for women’s empowerment. Nathan Rauh-Bieri will follow five women participating in the year-long Vital Voices GROW Fellowship with the ultimate goal of making some conclusions about what training practices bear replicating within the growing field of entrepreneurship education.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise
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Seeing Solutions Instead of Problems: What happens when 16 Changemakers come together to innovate? They hope to find out Sept. 25–27
Being part of a network not only gives social entrepreneurs visibility and recognition for their innovative work, it also puts them in contact with entrepreneurs from all over the world who, like them, are implementing projects that positively impact communities. That’s the idea behind the Ashoka Globalizer Summit on Economic Inclusion taking place in Buenos Aires, Sept. 25–27.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Social Enterprise
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Tablets + Smartphones = Easier Microloans?: New Accion case study explores use of digital field applications by microfinance banks
Providing micro financial services often involves manual processes which limit the potential for scaling up and expose clients to poor service, errors and fraud. That's why many microfinance banks are increasing the use of tablets, smartphones and other digital tools among loan officers and other staff. Accion has published a case study aiming to provide some clarity on the impact of these devices.
- Categories
- Education, Technology, Telecommunications
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The Risks of Government-Led Financial Inclusion: Why agent networks in India need to move beyond government mandates
Over the years, the government of India has facilitated financial access by promoting account opening through various programs. And, at first glance, some of the numbers associated with the government's inclusion mandates look good. But a more detailed look reveals a bleak picture that includes high agent attrition and low account activity rates.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Weekly Roundup 9-11-15: Accelerators for VCs, Ugandan-made EVs and other rare ‘unicorns’ of global development spotted
This week's developments featured a novel tool to help fix the lack of local venture capital and investment expertise in social enterprises, a new era for M-PESA, a new health care alliance and hybrid car in Africa, and a fascinating debate about what type of entity might become the continent’s first unicorn.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise
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