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Pay-As-You-Go Solar Kit Sales Surge 54% in Sub-Saharan Africa in H1 2025
The report shows that PAYGo sales, where customers purchase solar kits in installments, surpassed cash sales for the first time since 2018.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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COP30: Canada Backs IFAD Investment in Efforts to Boost Funding for Climate Adaptation
The contribution to IFAD was announced at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), in Belem, Brazil, by the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Entrepreneur-Friendly Inclusive Finance: A Survey of Brazilian MSMEs Highlights Key Lessons for Lenders
In Brazil, impact-focused lenders like Estímulo are successfully reaching small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with inclusive lending approaches. But as Carla Grados-Villamar at 60 Decibels and Lucas Conrado at Estímulo explain, inclusive finance is not just about disbursing loans — it’s about understanding entrepreneurs’ realities and adapting accordingly. They share findings from 60 Decibels' interviews with over 400 Estímulo loan applicants, highlighting lessons lenders can use to improve business outcomes for borrowers, and prepare non-borrowers for future credit opportunities. (In celebration of our 20th anniversary, NextBillion is highlighting key articles from our decades of coverage of different sectors on our homepage below, with a current focus on education.)
- Categories
- Finance
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Discovery Bank Becomes First Major South African Bank to Offer Crypto Trading
Discovery Bank has partnered with crypto exchange Luno to integrate crypto asset trading directly into the bank’s mobile application.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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RADIANT YACU of Rwanda Wins European Microfinance Award 2025
"RADIANT YACU’s model bundles affordable hospital cash and funeral cover with microfinance services, leveraging group structures to make enrolment simple and premiums sustainable."
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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IFC Commits $6 Million to First Circle Capital to Back Early-Stage Fintech Growth in Africa
"Founded and managed by a female-led executive team, First Circle operates from offices in Kampala (Uganda) and Casablanca (Morocco) and is registered as a limited partnership in Delaware."
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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BII and BlueOrchard Launch $250 Million Climate Fund for Insurers
The fund will primarily provide senior loans to banks, microfinance providers and other intermediaries offering climate finance to small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance
- Region
- Global
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GAIA Climate Loan Fund Seals $600 Million First Close, Driving Adaptation in Emerging Markets
The GAIA facility is blazing a new trail in climate finance by extending long-term loans to public sector borrowers in almost two-dozen emerging and developing markets.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance
- Region
- Global
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