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VISA, Atlas Mara in Major Payments Deal
Global payments firm Visa and Atlas Mara Limited that bought two of some of Rwanda’s biggest banks, have signed a commercial partnership to introduce new payment solutions and expand access to electronic payments within the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How small borrowers in six Indian villages went digital
In a first-of-its-kind initiative in micro-finance post-demonetisation, 60,000 small borrowers from six small villages in Odisha are leading the way towards cashless transactions. This was made possible thanks to a pilot done by Bharat Financial Inclusion (formerly SKS Microfinance) for cashless and paperless disbursals.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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India’s MFI sector yet to get over demonetisation impact
The microfinance industry is still facing challenges two-and-a-half months into demonetisation, with repayment collection taking a hit in some rural pockets where cash supply is yet to become normal and in parts of Maharashtra and poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, raising the spectre of a deterioration in asset quality.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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MRC Injects R10M Into Fight Against Life Threatening Health Conditions
CAPE TOWN- The Medical Research Council (MRC) has put up R10 million to boost the development of medical technology and programmes focused on the reduction of life-threatening health conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specific emphasis will be placed maternal and child health care.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Fourth Industrial Revolution: How Big Data and Machine Learning Can Boost Inclusive Fintech
It's easier and cheaper to generate data than ever before, and the tools to turn data into insights are growing exponentially. So much so, according to Matt Grasser of BFA, that any organization dealing with data that does not apply machine learning will be left behind. He explores the experiences of Destacame.cl, a fintech startup, in using machine learning to help identify good and bad payers based on a score.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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MoneyGram Agrees to Merge with Ant Financial
MoneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI), a global provider of innovative money transfer services, and Ant Financial Services Group, one of the world’s leading digital financial services providers and parent company of Alipay, a global mobile payment platform, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which MoneyGram will merge with Ant Financial, with stockholders of MoneyGram being offered $13.25 per share in cash. The transaction will connect MoneyGram’s money transfer network of 2.4 billion bank and mobile accounts and 350,000 physical locations with Ant Financial’s users, who enjoy a broad suite of technology-based financial services, including payments, credit and insurance products. The combination will provide consumers in over 200 countries and territories with convenient and accessible financial services, which furthers Ant Financial’s mission to promote equal access to financial services globally.
- Categories
- Technology
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Social Business Roundup: Scrutinizing a $30M Cookstove Study, the Limits of Silicon Valley and TV from the Sun
A $30 million study looking into using liquified petroleum gas in clean cookstoves has some 'stovers' heated up, why apps won't stop pandemics and why the time may be right for solar TV. It's all in our weekly roundup of social business news.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Health Care, Impact Assessment, Technology
- Tags
- climate health, solar
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What makes Senegal’s digital currency different?
Towards the end of last year, a regional bank for francophone west Africa, Banque Régionale de Marchés (BRM), issued a digital currency in Senegal (which it initially dubbed the eCFA but has since decided to rename). It acts similar to other digital currencies and consumers can interact with it across existing payment platforms, such as electronic and mobile wallets.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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