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Drones Are Delivering COVID-19 Vaccines to Underserved Communities
The company Zipline is using the technology to provide medical resources to rural areas in markets around the world.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care, Technology
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Women Are Paying More for M-Pesa: A Gender Analysis of Mobile Money Fees in Kenya
The cost of using financial services is a key barrier to their adoption and use in low- and middle-income countries — and when it comes to mobile money transactions via M-Pesa in Kenya, those costs are greater for women, according to a recent study. Bryan Pon at Caribou Data shares details about the study's findings, and explains how understanding these gender differences could illuminate some of the obstacles women face when using digital financial services – and help inform policy or system design approaches that could address these challenges.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
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‘Back in the U.S.S.D.’: Most Smartphone Owners—Especially Women—Don’t Use Apps for Financial Services
The global transition from basic mobile phones to smartphones has impacted nearly every sector, including financial services. Bryan Pon from Caribou Data considers whether this shift will help or hinder access to mobile money and digital finance for women in emerging markets — a group already less likely to be using these services. He shares the findings of a comprehensive study on how payment system design could impact gender bias in digital finance, and discusses the ongoing popularity — and under-recognized advantages — of old-fashioned USSD codes in mobile money.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications, Transportation
- Tags
- data, financial inclusion, fintech
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Uruguay-Based Fintech Platform dLocal Raises $150 Million
dLocal, the Uruguay-based fintech platform, announced that the company has raised $150 million in the latest investment round at a valuation of $5 billion.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Latin America
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Accel-Backed Mobile Money Platform Nala to Start Offering Remittance Services to East Africa
In Tanzania, mobile money services can be relatively difficult to use due to unstable internet and high service fees.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- cash transfers, fintech, remittances
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Analysis: How the Governments of Africa Are Prioritizing Resilience in the Pandemic Era
Digital access, data-sharing and modernized systems are making a difference in the fight against Covid-19.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Impact Startup betteries Secures €2.1 Million Seed Funding to Upcycle Electric Vehicle (EV) Batteries and to Avert Climate Change
Impact startup betteries upcycles 2nd life electric vehicle (EV) batteries to accelerate the transition to renewables and is well positioned to deliver scalable CO2 savings and protect scarce resources.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Technology, Transportation
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Uganda’s Tugende Closes $3.6 Million Series A Extension to Meet the Demand for Its Asset Finance Products
The investment, which, according to the company, was agreed on and structured in 2020, follows the $6.3 million raised in November 2020 and led by Toyota Tsusho investment fund Mobility 54. This brings Tugende’s total Series A financing to $9.9 million.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- MSMEs, transportation
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