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March’s Most Popular Posts: The power of transparency
Even when conclusions appear to be self evident, even “transparent,” different people tend to see different things. The perspective that transparency brings to the eye of the beholder could qualify as the theme of our most-read and most shared posts in March.
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The Power of Texting: How a Simple Text Message Can Make the Difference Between Success and Failure for Social Initiatives
Mobile phones are increasingly prevalent throughout the world, and researchers have found that sending text message reminders can help people follow through with their intentions, significantly increasing the success of development interventions. Roxanne Bauer explores the impact of text reminders on malaria treatment and savings initiatives, and discusses the science behind the approach.
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- Health Care, Impact Assessment, Technology, Telecommunications
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Financial Inclusion on the Final Frontier: After years of isolation, Myanmar must build inclusive finance from the ground up
After decades of isolation, a new government is helping Myanmar rejoin the rest of the world, drawing a flood of new investment. But with 80 to 90 percent of its population lacking access to formal financial services, this investment could fail to fully impact the country’s poor. Accion CEO Michael Schlein discusses the need for new entrants to approach this market with social values and principles.
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Mobile Money Amplified: Mondato Summit Africa to discuss the continent’s digital future in Johannesburg on June 2 – 3
A second generation of mobile financial tools and providers looks set to transform Africa’s economies. But while the outlines of Africa’s digital future may be faintly discernible, the substance is far from clear. Mondato Summit Africa, on June 2 - 3 in Johannesburg, South Africa, will seek to identify the key issues that will shape the evolution of African mobile commerce & finance in the years ahead.
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The Art of Saving – Look to the Giraffe, the Ant and the Zebra: A parable informs financial inclusion training in Ethiopia
My Amharic skills are basic at best, but I have managed to learn the names of a few animals, including “gundan,” which means ant. In the middle of a recent savings and credit training session we conducted with farmers in northern Ethiopia, one trainer used the word "gundan." "What does an ant have to do with savings?" I asked.
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- Agriculture
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Going Digital Sustainably: How microfinance providers can balance business needs, technology constraints and the customer value proposition
A strong digital financial services model can reduce distribution costs and increase revenue for financial institutions that serve the poor. But the transition to digital requires an understanding of the full implications of the new service, and a strategy to encourage customer behaviors that will yield a successful investment. Grameen Foundation offers tips in the latest post in their series on what it takes for MFIs to go digital.
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- microfinance
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NCDs Threatening Health Insurance: Innovations, partnerships offer ways to mitigate the impact
Non-communicable diseases have become the leading cause of death and disability worldwide?, carrying immense implications for insurance programs. However, ?there are opportunities? for public and private insurers to create and expand disease detection and management systems to mitigate the incidence and effect of NCDs.
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- Health Care
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NexThought Monday: Is Faster Necessarily Better?: As India’s financial inclusion initiatives race forward, questions linger about its microfinance-focused MUDRA
The pace of recent financial inclusion initiatives in India has been supersonic. Since August of last year, banks have opened 147 million new accounts, thanks largely to government programs. But while this progress is exciting, there are a number of unanswered questions about the real impact of these initiatives, including the new microfinance refinancer/regulator MUDRA.
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