-
A Holistic Approach: Three keys to helping small businesses access the finance they need
Among the many obstacles to the growth faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, the inability to access credit tops the list. How can intermediaries, such as nonprofit organizations supporting SMEs, help them access the credit that they need? There is room for a more holistic approach to supporting SMEs in search of financing. Here are three key lessons drawn from TechnoServe’s projects to support entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Momo, a Mobile Payment Firm in Vietnam, Lands $28M Led by Standard Chartered Bank
Vietnam is emerging as a technology market of note in Asia. Weeks after U.S. VC firm 500 Startups announced a fund for the country, Vietnam-based fintech company Momo has landed a $28 million investment round from banking giants Standard Chartered (SCB) and Goldman Sachs.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
-
Study: Micro-financing Impoverished Communities ‘Can Lead to Increased Debt Levels and Suicide’
Micro-financing "led to a higher level of debt among already impoverished communities" in the developing world, instead of kickstarting jobs, according to new study. After months of research in Bangladesh, Dr Laurel Jackson has warned that the practice of providing small loans to poor families is dramatically increasing stress and debt levels.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- microfinance, research
-
Tigo Tanzania Launches Innovative Nano Lending Scheme to Its Mobile Money Customers
Tigo Tanzania has today announced that it will launch an easy to access nano lending product to its stable of mobile financial services. This new product will not require collateral and offers immediate access to small loans to Tigo Pesa users.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Viewpoint: The Next Step for Developing Cuba? Microfinance
All eyes are on Cuba as U.S. President Barack Obama and at least 20 members of Congress descend on Havana today. While members of the delegation differ on the best path forward for U.S.-Cuban relations, everyone hopes for economic development that improves the quality of life for the average Cuban. What are the next steps for development in Cuba? And, how can the international community help Cuba preserve the educational and health gains of the Cuban revolution, while also updating its failing economic model?
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
-
Trust Issues Hamper Indonesia’s Government Endorsed Financial Inclusion Campaign
The government’s joint effort with banking institutions to promote financial inclusion across the archipelago is facing a major hurdle as most people from low-income households are reluctant to let individual agents take care of their savings under the government-endorsed branchless banking program, a recent study has revealed.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
18th Microcredit Summit Campaign Announces Declaration on Economic Empowerment and Social Inclusion
Organised jointly by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and the Microcredit Summit Campaign, the summit gathered 1000 global policy makers, central bank managers and microfinance experts to explore and discuss innovative financial inclusion strategies that can create clear pathways to economic and social inclusion.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
-
How ‘Social’ Social Entrepreneurship Should Be?
Social entrepreneurship has been a much discussed topic recently. Despite the vagueness of the term, it is an appealing construct because of the promise it holds – of being an entrepreneur and helping the society along the way. But what becomes a great difficulty on this way is when one aspect is given more importance than the other; or completely forgotten.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.