-
Outdated but Not Obsolete: Why USSD Is Still Key to Driving Digital Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa
As of late 2019, mobile internet adoption stood at just 26% across sub-Saharan Africa, and internet access remains expensive and unreliable even for people who can afford a smartphone. In light of that reality, Wole Olayinka of insiderPR argues that digital inclusion efforts should embrace USSD, a communications protocol that connects feature phone users to basic digital services even without internet access. He explores the advantages and downsides of this outdated – but surprisingly flexible – technology.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
-
Report: Second Wave of COVID-19 Infections Impacting Business Normalization in India
The 'second wave' of the pandemic is delaying business normalization in the country, as coronavirus infections rise in Maharashtra and other states, a report by a Japanese brokerage said on Monday.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
Coronavirus: G7 Backs International Monetary Fund’s Aid Hike for Low-Income Nations
Finance ministers from the US, Germany, Britain, Canada, France, Italy and Japan have thrown their weight behind plans to boost aid to developing nations by hundreds of billions of dollars.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
-
Analysis: COVID-19 Underscores Need to Boost Pharma Manufacturing in Emerging Markets
The scramble to produce vaccines and therapeutics and the challenges of getting these products to poorer countries underscores the growing importance of local pharma manufacturers for these emerging markets.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Tags
- manufacturing, scale, vaccines
-
How Decentralized Business Models Can Serve India’s Rural Communities During – and After – COVID-19
Centralizing business operations can improve efficiency, but it can also hinder a company's ability to innovate and tailor products for local markets. Mahesh Yagnaraman at Acumen shares how two companies used their decentralized models to quickly address COVID-19's challenges and adjust their offerings accordingly. He explores how these agile models can better identify the needs of their communities, no matter how remote, and reach them effectively.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Social Enterprise
-
Analysis: China’s Ambitious COVID-19 Vaccination Plan to Test Its Production Capability
China aims to vaccinate at least half a billion of its people against COVID-19 in four months, a challenge that will test the country’s formidable industrial might just as it accelerates efforts to help inoculate the rest of the world.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- manufacturing, vaccines
-
Indifi Secures $5 Million Debt Funding From IndusInd Bank
Gurugram-based online lending platform Indifi Technologies—enabling credit for small businesses—on Monday announced $5 million debt financing from IndusInd Bank Ltd, with a guaranty from US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- impact investing, MSMEs
-
Press Release: DFC Announces Support for Manufacturing of Vaccines During Quad Summit
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced it will work with Indian manufacturer Biological E Ltd. to finance increased capacity to support Biological E’s effort to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022 with Stringent Regulatory Authorization (SRA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing, including Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- gender lens, vaccines
Subscribe to Our 'Business in Global Development' Newsletter!
Our new weekly LinkedIn newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with curated news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage of impact-focused business in emerging markets.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.