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The company that turned African telcos into insurance brokers
In the early 2000s, UK-born Richard Leftley spent two weeks doing voluntary work in Kitwe, northern Zambia. During his stay, he met a woman who described her life as “a game of snakes and ladders” – no matter how hard she worked to get herself out of poverty, she kept finding herself right back where she started every time life rolled the dice against her.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Beyond the Beach: Exploring Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, tourism provides one in 10 jobs globally, and even more in developing countries. In the Caribbean, for instance, it directly or indirectly creates nearly one in every five jobs. The Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism will explore how tourism can "create good jobs, provide opportunities for inclusion and education, and assist in preserving cultural heritage and the environment." NextBillion will be a media partner at the event.
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- Uncategorized
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Indonesia: IFC proposes to provide up to $50m debt to microfinance institution MBK
The funding is expected to support the growth of the company’s microfinance portfolio, mainly targeting underserved rural women borrowers
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- microfinance
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Press release: USAID Announces $18.4 Million in Support of Cutting Edge Innovations
Since 2010, USAID-supported DIV innovations have collectively impacted 25 million people living in poverty and resulted in $4 in funding from outside investors, lenders and philanthropies for every U.S. taxpayer dollar spent.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- North America
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Reserve Bank of India Says ‘No’ to Islamic Banking
Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is prohibited under Islam. The issue of introduction of the interest-free banking in India was examined by RBI and the government of India, the central bank added.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- Islamic finance
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Reimagining Slums: Innovative Solutions to Bangladesh’s Urban Housing Dilemma
Bangladesh's housing deficit has quadrupled in the last decade and, in the absence of adequate measures, it is projected to increase to 8.5 million units by 2021. Due to extreme demand and lack of rent control in slums, housing prices are sky-high. BRAC's Asif Saleh and Mahira Khan say these challenges highlight an opportunity for testing out models for urban development that leverage government, private business and the development sector.
- Categories
- Investing, Uncategorized
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How Latino Entrepreneurs Can Fight Intergenerational Poverty: The Impact of Retirement Plans
Hispanics in the United States have an estimated buying power of $1.4 trillion – about 10 percent of the country's buying power. Despite this economic clout, they lag behind in retirement savings. Traditionally, many have taken care of their elderly parents and, in turn, expect their children to do the same for them. Manuel Carvallo of Hispanic Wealth suggests it's time for the growing number of Latino entrepreneurs to take the lead by establishing retirement plans.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
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Zambia Launches Its First National Financial Inclusion Strategy
The strategy, policy and the survey report are a product of extensive stakeholder consultations with members of the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, and academia led by the Government's National Financial Inclusion Drafting Committee. The strategy will guide Zambia in its plan to achieve the universal access and use of a broad range of affordable financial products and services.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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