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Tablets + Smartphones = Easier Microloans?: New Accion case study explores use of digital field applications by microfinance banks
Providing micro financial services often involves manual processes which limit the potential for scaling up and expose clients to poor service, errors and fraud. That's why many microfinance banks are increasing the use of tablets, smartphones and other digital tools among loan officers and other staff. Accion has published a case study aiming to provide some clarity on the impact of these devices.
- Categories
- Education, Technology, Telecommunications
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Nine Major Banks Back Blockchain Collaboration Plan
Nine of the world's largest banks are backing an initiative to create a set of global standards for the use of distributed ledger technology in financial markets.
- Categories
- Technology
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Five Ugandan Women Create Women’s Health App
Five women from Makerere University in Uganda have created a test kit that connects to an app on smartphone which detects harmful vaginal bacteria that can cause bacterial vaginosis and other infections, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported today.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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More Rwandans Go Digital As Rate of Poverty Drops
The number of Rwandans owning a mobile phone has increased from 6.2 per cent of the country's total population in 2000 to 63.6 per cent in 2014 as poverty dropped to 39 per cent, the fourth Integrated Household Living Survey, launched yesterday in Kigali, says.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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They Call It ‘Silicon Savannah’: What an East African Nation Teaches About Innovation
Kenya giant mobile phone company Safaricom recently made a move that, if other technology firms in Africa follow, could have revolutionary effects. It launched a Shillings 50 million ($500,000) innovation fund.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Smile, The Pan-African Wireless ISP, Has Raised $365 Million to Expand Its Network
Three years after launching Africa’s first 4G LTE services in Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria, Smile Telecoms has raised $365 million.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Human Waste as a Value Chain: ‘Sustainable sanitation’ startup has plans to expand throughout Peru and, eventually, abroad
Lima, Peru, is one of the driest capital cities in the world. That's one reason x-runner, a social enterprise, has had success selling urine-diverting dry toilets and coordinating a for-pay sanitation system for subscribers in the slums there. Another reason might be its trial and error, local-oriented approach.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise, Technology
- Tags
- infectious diseases, waste
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Viewpoint: Debate on Dominance in Telecoms Needs a Sober Approach in Kenya
Despite the hyped 87 per cent mobile phone penetration rate as of March 2015, the reality is that Kenya's unique subscriber base is probably around 45 per cent, meaning more than half of the country lacks "real" access to mobile services.
- Categories
- Technology
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