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Weathering a Perfect Storm – Part 2: Seven Ways Fintechs Can Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the financial services industry – particularly in emerging markets. In the second article of this two-part series, analysts at MSC explore seven key measures fintechs are taking to stay relevant, augment their recovery and build their resilience during the crisis.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Weathering a Perfect Storm – Part 1: The Challenges Facing Fintechs in Emerging Markets During COVID-19
Fintechs have proven their potential to deliver financial services to low- and middle-income customers in emerging markets. But even the most innovative approaches can fail in an economy devastated by COVID-19. In this article – the first in a two-part series – analysts at MSC explore the challenges and opportunities the pandemic brings to the fintech sector.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Digital Financial Services Could Fast-Track UN SDGs
Change is afoot in Africa as governments work tirelessly to identify their most vulnerable citizens for emergency disbursements. Banks, mobile money operators and Fintech firms are providing innovative solutions to meet their client needs and this may be a significant opportunity for lasting positive change.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital finance, fintech, SDGs
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Risk vs. Resilience: Insuring Sustainable African Cities in the Age of Climate Change
Though COVID-19 dominates the global conversation, climate change continues to have devastating effects. For instance, there were 53 climate-related disasters in Africa in 2018 alone – and these challenges are likely to get worse as the continent urbanizes. Kate Rinehart-Smit and Mia Thom at Cenfri suggest four interventions that can help insurers protect African cities and infrastructure against climate disasters.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance
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Women-Focused Fintech Startups Can Now Apply for World’s Women Banking Challenge
World’s Women Banking (WWB), US-based gender inclusiveness investment firm in partnership with Singapore Fintech Festival, recently opened applications for fintech startups focused on women in emerging markets.
- Categories
- Finance
- Tags
- fintech, gender lens, startups
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Southeast Asia’s Fintech Startups Face Shakeout From Coronavirus
The coronavirus is unlikely to halt the rapid advance of fintech firms in the emerging landscapes of Southeast Asia. Along the way, however, it is amplifying the gains of some startups while inflicting pain on many others.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Press Release: The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Announces Winners of the Advancing Women’s Empowerment Fund
Fund will distribute up to $1.2 million in grant capital across eight winning proposals out of a pool of more than 180 total applications
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Viewpoint: The Importance Of Payments: How Happy SMEs Make Happy Economies
Some still believe instant payments are a luxury that businesses simply do not need. After all, payments have always taken days or weeks in the past. But if we look back over the past 15 years or so, we can see significant change in the market yet comparatively little change in the payment processes and timescales involved.
- Categories
- Finance
- Tags
- digital payments