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Digital Inclusion by Way of Backpack: A Q&A with Imcon International CEO Rob Loud
Internet access has the potential to transform livelihoods in a myriad of ways – and financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and education are just a few of the sectors that stand to benefit. However, despite growing global internet use, billions in rural, hard-to-reach areas still lack access, representing a massive missed opportunity. In this Q&A, Imcon International CEO Rob Loud shares how his company is partnering with governments and NGOs to increase connectivity in the last mile through an affordable, simple device – the humble backpack.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise, Technology
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African Internet Connectivity Gets A Mobile World Congress Boost
The continent's first live 5G network in South Africa, the world's first 400Gbps backbone network in Kenya and a 750 kilometer (km) fiberoptic network in Nigeria's Edo and Ogun States were announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Mastercard and Angaza shine for payments in emerging markets
San Francisco-based Angaza provides a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) embedded metering and monitoring technology, while Mastercard brings its digital payment solutions and infrastructure including QR technology.
- Categories
- Energy, Finance, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Press release: Hello Tractor and CTA launch partnership to support smallholder farmers access mechanisation
Across sub-Saharan Africa, farmers face some of the lowest rates of mechanisation. Despite the benefits of tractor mechanisation, cost and access have been key impediments to its widespread adoption.
- Source
- Press release
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Promise (and the Absence) of EdTech: Why Countries Aren’t Adopting It More Widely – And What Can Be Done
Despite decades of promises and false starts, consistent, large-scale EdTech programs to address under-skilled or absent teachers remain frustratingly elusive in many emerging economies. Why are local Ministries of Education – and donors from rich countries – reluctant to embrace nationwide programs to address teacher gaps through technology? Dalberg analysts are asking the question, and the answers may lie in a lack of actionable evidence.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment, Technology
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Smart feature phones with “light” operating systems are the future of Africa’s mobile growth
Africa’s young and fast-expanding markets are increasingly seen by the telecoms industry as the future of growth. Various African governments, operators, and entrepreneurs have announced or launched plans to develop their own home-grown phones.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press release: Social Alpha and Tata Trusts-PATH Impact Lab announce the winning innovations of the ‘Social Alpha Quest for Healthcare Innovations’
Social Alpha Quest for Healthcare Innovations program is an intensive 12 - 15 months program where the cohort will receive comprehensive support from Social Alpha and Tata Trusts–PATH Impact Lab to scale their innovations to the next stage of product development.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Crypto-currencies gaining popularity in Kenya
Interest in virtual currencies is rising across the African continent, especially in Kenya, Africa's Silicon Valley.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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