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Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: A Microfinance Network Responds to the Devastating Reality of COVID-19 in India
The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a disastrous toll in India, with over 27 million confirmed cases and 311,000 reported deaths. In the face of this emergency, Opportunity International is leveraging its network of microfinance partners to provide crucial assistance to hard-hit communities. CEO Atul Tandon explains how the organization is working with microfinance providers to convert their offices into emergency response and triage centers, while educating clients about pandemic-related health risks and providing them with food and supplies.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Health Care, Transportation
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Mobility Company Africa’s First to Become Carbon Neutral
South African-based Planet42 has become the first mobility company in Africa to be certified carbon neutral.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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‘Back in the U.S.S.D.’: Most Smartphone Owners—Especially Women—Don’t Use Apps for Financial Services
The global transition from basic mobile phones to smartphones has impacted nearly every sector, including financial services. Bryan Pon from Caribou Data considers whether this shift will help or hinder access to mobile money and digital finance for women in emerging markets — a group already less likely to be using these services. He shares the findings of a comprehensive study on how payment system design could impact gender bias in digital finance, and discusses the ongoing popularity — and under-recognized advantages — of old-fashioned USSD codes in mobile money.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications, Transportation
- Tags
- data, financial inclusion, fintech
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Innovative Philanthropy: Why Charitable Giving in Global Education Is Good Business
The business community is increasingly aware of its social responsibility and the impact of its charitable giving — and this shift is influencing how it interacts with the philanthropic sector. Kingsley Pungong of Rainbow Sports Global shares the changes he's seen as a long-term entrepreneur and philanthropist, and explores how innovative new giving models can benefit both recipients and donors. As a case in point, he explains how his recent donations in support of global childhood education will improve his business dealings and make a strong social impact.
- Categories
- Education, Investing, Transportation
- Tags
- corporations, philanthropy
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Press Release: Impact Startup betteries Secures €2.1 Million Seed Funding to Upcycle Electric Vehicle (EV) Batteries and to Avert Climate Change
Impact startup betteries upcycles 2nd life electric vehicle (EV) batteries to accelerate the transition to renewables and is well positioned to deliver scalable CO2 savings and protect scarce resources.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Technology, Transportation
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Vietnam Launches First Autonomous Vehicle
The vehicle boasts AI features including 3D maps, Lidar sensors, simultaneous localisation and mapping technology, and incorporates machine and deep learning within its software
- Categories
- Technology, Transportation
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- e-mobility, transportation
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Bolt Receives a €20 Million Investment From IFC to Increase Access to Mobility Services in Emerging Markets
Bolt is partnering with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to promote access to on-demand mobility services in emerging economies.
- Categories
- Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- transportation
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Activating a Network of 4 Million: Community Health Workers are Key to Fighting COVID-19 – Here’s How They Can Accelerate Financial Inclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the role of community health workers. According to Tanjila Mazumder Drishti, Khondokar Anwar Shadat and Raiya Kishwar Ashraf at BRAC, it has also demonstrated their potential as proponents of financial access — for themselves and the families they serve. They explore a BRAC initiative to enroll its 50,000 health workers in Bangladesh in mobile money, and share how this scalable model could have enormous implications for global financial inclusion.k
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Health Care, Transportation
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