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Analysis: Understanding the Risks of Nonparticipation in Philanthropy
How philanthropic organizations can better understand the degree to which they include beneficiaries in their decision-making processes, how contextual considerations shape participation, and where problems and opportunities lie.
- Categories
- Finance, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Global
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Supporting Farmers and Food Systems: How Crowdfunding Can Address Funding Challenges for Agricultural SMEs in Africa
Agriculture employs over 70% of the working population in Africa, making it a cornerstone of the continent's economic progress and livelihood development. But as Esther Mweru and Jerry Sellanga at 2SCALE explain, the financial strain of COVID-19 — combined with previously existing market inefficiencies — is putting many vulnerable farmers and agricultural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at risk. They explore how crowdfunding can provide a financial lifeline to these smallholders and businesses, and discuss how 2SCALE is using it to support agribusinesses in Mali, Nigeria and Kenya.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance, Technology
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African Fintech pawaPay Secures $9 Million In a Seed Funding Round
According to reports the funding will be used to help scale the fintech’s operational presence, grow the existing team and expand in new markets across Africa.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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An Innovative Approach to Income Volatility: How One Company Is Bringing Income Pooling (Back) to the United States
Low-income communities in emerging markets around the world use income pooling groups to recover from financial shocks or save for much-needed expenditures. As Sarmed Rashid at Pando explains, the practice allows group members to manage their income volatility – a challenge also faced by many professionals in the United States. He explores how Pando is seeking to serve these individuals by creating, organizing and managing income pools for Americans working in entrepreneurship and sports, while aiming to expand its focus to include poverty alleviation and economic development.
- Categories
- Finance
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Visa To Enable Deeper Financial Inclusion With Offline Payments in India
The technology will allow users to make transactions using chip-based Visa debit, credit, and prepaid cards even in places with low or no internet connectivity.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Mexican Neobroker Flink Raises $57 Million To Boost Financial Inclusion in Latin America
Flink, a Mexico City-based neobroker, has raised $57 million in a Series B round of funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Latin America
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pawaPay Raises $9 Million Seed Backed by MSA Capital, 88mph and Mr Eazi’s Zagadat Capital
PawaPay is tackling technical complexities in creating a unified infrastructure for businesses that need digital payments.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Africa-Focused Payment Firm Opay Raises $400 Million in Funding Round Led by SoftBank
OPay, an Africa-focused digital payment startup founded by a Chinese entrepreneur, said it has secured $400 million in its latest funding round.
- Categories
- Finance, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa