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Bill Gates and Former Bass Guitarist Aim to Change Health Care
The Gates Foundation makes its first equity investment in online health care with stake in Indonesia’s Halodoc.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- startups
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Three Ways Technological Disruption is Fighting Inequality in Asia – And One Challenge it Hasn’t Yet Overcome
A wave of economic development is transforming Asia. But along with its many benefits, this growth is straining the region’s natural resources and leaving many poor communities behind. However, Sangeetha Watson at AVPN highlights some good news: Sustainable, tech-based solutions can help address these inequalities, particularly in financial inclusion, health care delivery and gender equity. She explores technology's impact on these areas – and flags one problem that tech has largely failed to address.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise, Technology
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Unlocking the Power of Informal Retailers: Mobile Solutions for Commercial and Social Impact in Emerging Markets
More than 61% of the world’s workers earn their living in the informal sector – and 93% of those are in emerging markets. This can lead to unique challenges for both informal retailers and their customers - and for the companies whose products these retailers sell. Analysts at Every1Mobile explore these challenges, and share how their organization and its partners are utilizing mobile-based platforms to help modernize informal trade and unlock economic welfare for low- and middle-income populations.
- Categories
- Technology
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The Promise of e-Commerce in Africa Might Not Be Where We Think
E-commerce is often discussed in the context of consumers and customer satisfaction but for many investors and analysts most of their focus is spent looking under the hood—trying to understand how the retailer, which they really see as a logistics company, manages its supply chain.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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A Power Outage and Mobile Money Blackout Expose the Vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s Economy
In what seems like a never-ending cycle of misery for ordinary Zimbabweans in the last year, it is likely there will be more power cuts and ultimately more economic disruption due to the country’s currency troubles and—now, climate change.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ethiopia Offers New Hope for Phone Providers With African Dreams
As part of an ambitious reform program, the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed plans to award telecommunications licenses to two private operators next year, and sell a minority stake in Ethio Telecom.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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In China, Mental Health Care Goes Virtual
This March, JAMA Psychiatry published what researchers say is the first ever randomized controlled trial of a therapist-free VR intervention of acrophobia, or fear of heights. It found the technology to be effective, inexpensive and well-received by patients.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Does Facebook Need A Humanitarian Partner For Its New Digital Currency?
Libra, according to its website, wants to "reinvent" money by making a financial transaction as cheap and simple as "sending a text message or sharing a photo."
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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