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Why Private Businesses — Not Non-Profits and NGOs — Present the Only Scalable Solution for Last-Mile Electrification in Africa
In the pursuit of last-mile electrification in Africa, both businesses and NGOs/non-profits are pursuing different pathways to scale. In a recent NextBillion article, Aneri Pradhan at New Energy Nexus argued that market-led approaches are ill-suited for remote communities, and that philanthropy should focus more on scalable non-profit models. But according to Yariv Cohen at Ignite Power, when it comes to serving these communities at scale, businesses offer advantages that non-profits and NGOs cannot match. He explores why the private sector’s role is critical for addressing energy poverty across Africa.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
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Tiger Global-Backed Minka Is the Latest Latin American Fintech to Set up Shop in Africa
Minka’s arrival in East Africa follows a trend of Latin American fintech companies expanding into Africa.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Global
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Norfund Invests $20 Million in APIs Growth Markets Fund III to Propel Fintech Expansion in Developing Economies
Norfund aims to address the financial needs of underserved populations by broadening its investment strategy to include fintech ventures.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Global
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Press Release: Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia & Spark+ Africa Closes US$3.75 Million Series A Investment in ATEC for Global South Expansions
SEEAA is a €21M investment vehicle managed by Schneider Electric to invest in early-stage clean energy ventures in South and Southeast Asia.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Scalable Mini-Grid Design Requires Expandable Systems: Why Modular Technology and Finance are Key to the Sector’s Growth and Sustainability
Mini-grids offer a proven, low-cost solution to bring energy access to hard-to-reach communities. But as Nathan Sermonis and Liam Murphy at Vittoria Technology argue, mini-grid projects need to start small and grow alongside customer demand for optimal sustainability. They explore why smart mini-grid design requires expandable, right-sized systems with “modular” finance and technology, and discuss how recent innovations in batteries and other solar technologies can enable this change in the sector’s approach to system design.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
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Meta Gradually Opens the Door to Monetisation for Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Other African Creators
Content Creators in Nigeria and Ghana are now eligible to earn money on Facebook and Instagram.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- creative economy, startups, youth
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Nigerian Digital Therapy Startup Blueroomcare Secures Pre-seed Funding to Expand Access to Mental Health Care Across Africa
The Nigerian startup Blueroomcare, which offers a digital therapy service covered by insurance, has successfully secured an undisclosed amount of pre-seed investment.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Federal Government Disburses 2nd Batch of ₦5 Billion Creative Fund to Nollywood
This funding presents a great local opportunity for Nigerian creatives, especially Nollywood filmmakers to make movies with Nigerians in mind as the primary audience.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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