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Why Credit is Key to Unlocking Africa’s Consumer Markets and Boosting Economic Growth
Africa’s consumer market is one of the fastest-growing in the world. But as Fehintolu Olaogun at CredPal points out, this growth has primarily occurred without consumer credit, as most sub-Saharan African economies remain cash-driven at the retail level. He explains why African markets need the kind of organized credit systems that are enjoyed by consumers in more developed markets, and explores the impact that credit access can have on e-commerce, informal commerce and overall economic growth in the region.
- Categories
- Finance, Telecommunications
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To Tax or Not to Tax Mobile Money: The Impact on Digital Financial Services in Africa and Beyond
Mobile money is widely seen as a promising engine for global development. But governments in Africa are also increasingly viewing it as a lucrative source of tax revenue. With critics raising concerns about the impact of taxing mobile money and other digital financial services, Adrienne Lees and Phil Mader at the Institute of Development Studies explore whether existing research can inform any confident predictions about the effects of these taxes on providers, customers and the broader financial inclusion sector.
- Categories
- Finance, Telecommunications
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M-Pesa Completes Bill Payment Interoperability in Kenya
To boost financial inclusion, Kenya wants to interconnect the various mobile money platforms that are active in the national territory.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How Wave Rose to Become Francophone Africa’s First Unicorn
The digital financial company erased the old ways of sending and receiving money and came up with an easier and cheaper method.
- Categories
- Finance, Telecommunications
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Bringing the Digital Media Revolution to Africa: How Innovative Local Publications are Positioning Themselves for Rapid Growth
In Africa, legacy media outlets – both foreign and domestic – are often criticized for being politically biased and racially tone-deaf, while overlooking topics of critical importance to the public. But according to Tomiwa Aladekomo at Big Cabal Media, a new generation of digital publications are highlighting the issues and perspectives that legacy publishers have avoided. He explores how these innovators are navigating the inherent difficulties facing the media industry in Africa, while linking the journalistic strengths of traditional media to the youthful energy and global reach of social media.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications
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Press Release: D.light and SFC Announce Industry-Leading USD $238 Million Multi-Currency Receivable Financing Facility
The new financing vehicle will pave the way for d.light to sustainably expand its PayGo operations across Africa.
- Categories
- Energy, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Airtel Africa, Others Receive Notice to Pay About $180 Million to Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered mobile phone firms operating in the African country to pay a charge of almost $180 million every year.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Press Release: Vice President Harris Announces More Than $1.9 Billion in New Private Sector Commitments as Part of Call to Action for Northern Central America
The Vice President, U.S. Department of State, and the Partnership for Central America (PCA), come together to announce private sector commitments now total more than $3.2 billion
- Categories
- Investing, Telecommunications
- Region
- Latin America
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