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Africa Discovers the Power of Crowdfunding
Budding South African film producer Meg Rickards was struggling to raise the money for her new feature film, Whiplash, when she came across the idea of crowdfunding.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- crowdfunding
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The Big Advantages of Being Small: How a mobile money startup beat the major players in Zambia
Once called “the best kept secret in Africa,” the digital finance company Zoona has quickly advanced from a scrappy startup to one of the leading mobile money providers in Zambia. Jungwon Byun describes how, despite being outmatched in terms of size and capital, Zoona has outcompeted the telcos and established banks in the country.
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- Uncategorized
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The Real FinTech Capitals of the World
What is the FinTech capital of the world? London? New York? Silicon Valley? It’s actually somewhere in Africa or Asia if you heed the results of this year’s Payments Innovation Jury Report.
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- mobile finance
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Closing the Financial Inclusion Gender Gap
While financial inclusion is growing for everyone, women tend to lag men by seven percentage points globally - in emerging markets, the difference is nine percentage points on average and can be as high as 18 percentage points in South Asia.
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- Uncategorized
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TPC the First Microfinance Institution in Cambodia Certified for Commitment to Client Protection
Thaneakea Phum Cambodia (TPC) has been formally recognized as “Client Protection Certified” by the Smart Campaign for meeting strong standards of client care. TPC is the first microfinance institution in Cambodia to be awarded this prestigious certification and one of the 10 MFIs pursuing such recognition supported by funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) under the "Client Protection Initiative" project Implemented by Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA).
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- microfinance
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SACCOs Seek Speedy Regulation in Uganda
Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) leaders have asked government to fast track regulation for microfinance institutions in the country in order to attract more people to use their services and protect clients.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- microfinance, regulations
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Bandhan Bank Is Born: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh’s Incredible Journey From a Sweet Shop to Owning a Bank
In most Indian languages, the word Bandhan means bond or togetherness. His bond with the credit-deprived poor in Eastern India’s villages and a Rs 2 lakh loan were the initial capital for Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, the son of a small sweet-shop owner from Bengal, to begin a microfinance institution, Bandhan Financial Services Ltd, and grow it to a private bank in less than 15 years.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Thread Raises $3.5 Million Round for Clean Textile Innovation
Thread, a Pittsburgh-based startup dedicated to creating dignified jobs in the developing world, recycles plastic into socially responsible fabric.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- impact investing
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