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Can Digital Credit Outperform Microcredit in the Developing World?
Microfinance has been hailed as a transformative force for poor households and entrepreneurs in emerging markets. But recent evidence suggests it is not the silver bullet it was once thought to be. Meanwhile, mobile phones have become ubiquitous in most developing countries, and Alexandra Wall, Natasha Beale and Carson Christiano explore whether digital credit can do a better job than microcredit in meeting the needs of the underserved.
- Categories
- Financial Inclusion, Impact Assessment, Investing
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World’s First Social Sustainability Bond Listed on a Stock Exchange
The US$8 million bond provides loans to social enterprises and microfinance institutions, which, in turn, aim to help more than 385,000 women in Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Through Social Investing, Asia’s ‘On a Journey to Help it Help Itself’
AVPN's recent annual conference, known as “Asia’s top social investment event,” attracted representatives from 32 countries, including 18 Asian ones, reflecting the reality that activity is taking off across the region, says John-Paul Hamilton of Dasra. And it seemed fitting that the conference centered on collaboration, which is more essential than ever to ensure a progressive and suitable continuum of funding.
- Categories
- Events and Competitions, Investing
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Non-profits start with energy but lack systems, so struggle for funding: Roopa Kudva of Omidyar Network
Omidyar's most recent investment in India is in Goodera, a for-profit company that helps corporates channel money for CSR activities. India managing director Roopa Kudva , who joined the venture in 2015, explains why financial inclusion is top of its list of priorities.
- Categories
- Financial Inclusion, Investing
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Clearing the Way for Clean Energy Investment in Emerging Markets
Investment in renewables in emerging markets is growing, helped by the combination of high energy demand with declining prices, and banks in OECD nations are playing a larger role in financing the projects. Still, despite the growth opportunities, there are several key obstacles confronting those looking to invest in clean energy. Ankit Mishra discusses ways to reduce some of these challenges.
- Categories
- Energy, Financial Inclusion, Investing
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Stakeholders advocate bespoke intervention schemes for MSMEs
According to the stakeholders, MSMEs are the first responders to societal needs and are responsible for significant employment and income generation opportunities across the world even as they have been identified as a major driver of poverty alleviation and development.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Investing with ‘green’ ratings? It’s a gray area
There are no set criteria for who is bad and who is good and so-called ESG ratings vary widely, meaning investors may be less protected than they think, for example, from a scandal over labor practices or board pay. "We don't have a common vernacular," said Asha Mehta, director of responsible investing at Acadian Asset Management in Boston.
- Categories
- Investing
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TLcom Capital hits $40m first close for sub-Saharan Africa tech fund
The $100m-targeting TIDE Africa fund will look to provide African entrepreneurs with capital to develop tech-driven solutions to the continent’s biggest problems.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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