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Social Protection Goes Digital: Lessons From an Innovative, WhatsApp-Driven Outreach Campaign in Paraguay
The COVID-19 lockdown has reshaped social policy in Paraguay, as programs that depended on face-to-face contact to reach participants suddenly found themselves unable to conduct their usual outreach. Cristina Heisecke, Carolina de Miranda and Mauricio Royg of Fundación Capital share lessons from an innovative solution to this challenge: a digital campaign that used WhatsApp to offer a remote alternative to the in-person training and coaching of the country's flagship cash transfer program.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Social Enterprise, Technology
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[Updated] Erudifi Raises US $5 Million Series A to Grow Its ‘Study Now, Pay Later’ Model in Indonesia, Philippines
[Updated] Erudifi Raises Us$5m Series a to Grow Its 'Study Now, Pay Later' Model in Indonesia, Philippines
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Vedantu Acquires Instasolv, a Doubt-Solving App – the Latest in Buzzing EdTech Acquisitions in India
Indian online tutoring startup Vedantu has acquired Instasolv, a doubt-solving app – marking its first acquisition in the buzzing educational technology space. While the details of the deal remain undisclosed, Vedantu had also invested $2 million in Instasolv in July 2020.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- edtech
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Volta Energy Technologies Raises Over $90 Million of a Targeted $150 Million Fund to Back Energy Storage Startups
As the transition away from internal combustion engines and hydrocarbon fuels begins in earnest, companies are scrambling to drive down costs and improve performance of battery technologies that will be necessary to power millions of electric cars and store massive amounts of renewable energy that still needs to be developed.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Tags
- startups
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With Over 1.3 Million Users, Nigerian-Based Fintech FairMoney Wants to Replicate Growth in India
There are more than 1.7 billion underbanked people globally, the majority of which are from emerging markets. For them, accessing loans can be difficult, which is a problem fintechs try to solve. One way they do this is by promoting financial inclusion by underwriting credit via a proprietary algorithm.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Tags
- fintech
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Analysis: Could AI Ease Food Security Fears?
Dr Liangxiu Han discusses how we might harness big data and machine learning/AI to boost global food security in these uncertain times of climate change.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
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MTN Teams up With Mastercard on Mobile Wallets in Africa
Africa’s leading mobile operator MTN has partnered with payment platform Mastercard to add online payment functions to its mobile wallet for user across its fintech footprint.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Developing a ‘Purpose Mindset’: How Microsoft’s Employee Giving Efforts Are Impacting the Company – and the World
Microsoft is mainly known for its tech innovations, but it has brought a similarly inventive approach to employee giving. Akhtar Badshah at Catalytic Innovators Group, who led Microsoft’s philanthropic efforts for 10 years, explores this model in his new book, "Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees & Alumni to Change the World." He discusses the company's efforts to effect large-scale social change through small-scale staff donations and volunteerism, and shares lessons for other organizations that want to foster a culture of purpose and empathy.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Tags
- COVID-19, nonprofits, philanthropy
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