-
Geodata Technology Moving Into New Fields. Literally.
Geodata and ICT applications help farmers with precision farming, leading to increased yields and improved quality. This information has not yet been made available to financial institutions at a large scale, but it has the potential to increase access to finance for smallholder farmers. The Rabobank Foundation and NpM have launched a Board of Inspiration to help speed the process.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
-
From Robotic Exoskeletons to ‘Uber’ for the Disabled: How Social Tech Startups Can Transform Health Care
Today, thanks to technology, individuals and startups can tackle issues that previously could only be addressed by governments and big business – including health care. Here, in advance of June's AVPN Conference in Bangkok, the social tech acceleration program Tech For Good recognizes five companies that are harnessing technology in innovative ways to solve health care and safety issues.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
-
MFIN launches mobile app to spread financial literacy
MFIN, an association of the microfinance industry in India, today launched a financial literacy mobile app for clients. The multi lingual financial literacy app will act as a guide and ready reckoner for the clients, said Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), which mainly caters to underbanked and unbanked population in the country.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
-
MFS transaction limits taking toll on SMEs, e-commerce in Bangladesh
An account holder can now make deposits and withdraw amounts twice in a day. Previously, the limit for cash-in was five and for cash-out it was five. On January 11 this year, Bangladesh Bank issued an order to all mobile financial service providers to comply with the revised mobile banking transaction ceiling, citing abuse of the facility by a section of people.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- digital finance
-
This Is How Cryptocurrencies & Blockchain Could Solve Asia’s Financial Inclusion Issue
In 2016, staff members within the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggested that virtual currencies could promote financial inclusion. The IMF issued the standard cautions about how virtual currencies (VCs) might be used for money laundering, terrorism and other nefarious purposes. But it also wrote that, “VCs offer many potential benefits, including greater speed and efficiency in making payments and transfer--particularly across borders--and ultimately promoting financial inclusion.”
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
-
Fintech: Africa welcomes emerging fintech startups
Given financial technology is about smart, innovative, flexible start-ups looking to eat away at traditional financial firms’ intermediary roles, it is not surprising that Africa, with its woefully inefficient banks and sclerotic infrastructure, is feeling the full force of the fintech wave. According to industry players, there is a hive of fintech activity now in most major capitals of Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech, mobile finance
-
UN report: Social network payments now reach nearly US $3 trillion in China
A new UN study reveals that Alipay and WeChat Pay enabled US$2.9 trillion in Chinese digital payments in 2016, representing a 20-fold increase in the past four years. The data shows that digital payments, using existing platforms and networks, provide access to a wider range of digital financial services, expanding financial inclusion and economic opportunity throughout China and neighboring countries.
- Categories
- Technology
-
It’s Amazon versus Alibaba versus Softbank in world’s fastest-growing e-commerce market
Recently published a piece headlined 'India’s e-commerce battle is not Indian anymore' that highlighted the battle between Amazon and China's Alibaba Group in the world's fastest-growing e-commerce market.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.