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Analysis: Why Cash Transfers Are an Efficient Method of Reducing Food Insecurity
With high levels of mobile phone and internet penetration, coupled with advanced digital technologies in the financial sector, Kenya has favourable conditions for cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations. However, corruption and lack of reliable data on beneficiaries can derail efforts to make all Kenyans food secure during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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U.S.-Based Fintech Venio Launches Developing World-Focused Smartphone App to Make Nano Loans
The app is the first-ever smartphone-based nano lending service for developing countries, Venio said in a statement.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Survival, Recovery and Resilience: 12 Recommendations to Help Financial Institutions Weather the COVID-19 Crisis
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the 300 million-plus enterprises operating in emerging economies around the world. It has also harmed their financial institutions, which are dealing with poor asset quality, liquidity pressure and reduced profitability as clients struggle to repay loans. Analysts at MicroSave Consulting (MSC) share 12 recommendations to help these institutions survive and recover in the wake of the pandemic.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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Bill Gates Is Spending $150 Million to Try to Make a Coronavirus Vaccine as Cheap as $3
Pay more attention to what Gates is doing overseas than what he’s saying about the United States.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing, vaccines
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Africa’s Fast-Growing Tourism Industry Could Lose up to $120 Billion and Millions of Jobs
“Tourism is one of the largest industries worldwide and provides 7% of Africa’s GDP,” says Dr. Annika Surmeier, an economic geographer working at the University of Manchester and the University of Cape Town. “National lockdowns and travel bans to reduce the spread of Covid-19 had devastating effects on the tourism industry and hundreds of thousands of people, often women or people from poor communities, have lost their jobs.”
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- tourism
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Tackling the COVID-19 Hunger Crisis in Africa: How Digital Networks Can Empower Small Farmers and Avert a Looming Disaster
COVID-19 is bringing even wealthy nations to their knees, but it’s dealing the deadliest blow to the world’s most vulnerable people – including smallholder farmers in Africa. And as Leesa Shrader at Mercy Corps points out, this is rapidly turning a health crisis into a hunger crisis. She explores how tech-powered solutions can help them survive the pandemic and build resilience for the future.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Coronavirus
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GSMA and WFP Launch Mobile Money Program to Distribute Disaster Relief
The GSMA will be working with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide civilians with financial relief during humanitarian crises. Examples include pandemics and natural disasters, although the program is not limited to those specific situations.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
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Interview: Rwanda Harnesses Technology to Fight COVID-19, Drive Recovery
In a conversation with IMF Country Focus, Rwanda’s Minister of State in Charge of National Treasury Richard Tusabe explains how his government is leveraging technology and grass-roots networks to fight the spread of COVID-19 and ensure financial support for households and businesses.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa