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Cambodia Has a Big Problem With Small Loans
Economists worry that at best the debt could put the brakes on economic growth, and at worst could fuel social unrest as inequality rises.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- microfinance
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Oxford Expands Support For Social Entrepreneurs
Oxford University has announced it will be launching new support programmes for social enterprises in an effort to expand the impact of startups incubated at the University.
- Categories
- Education
- Tags
- startups
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How a Ugandan prince and a crypto startup are planning an African revolution
Crypto and blockchain enthusiasts have been railing for years against the centralized world of banks, but many have been doing so from the privileged vantage point of developed countries. But what if blockchain technology turned out to be most revolutionary in emerging economies?
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Sierra Leone, United Nations to Develop Blockchain Digital ID System
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNDCF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have entered into a partnership with Kiva, a technology nonprofit. Kiva will lend its institutional protocol of the same name to implement the “Credit Bureau Of The Future.”
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ripple Announces $105 Million Charity Venture for Education, Financial Inclusion Projects
Ripple for Good will reportedly operate in collaboration with RippleWorks, an existing non-profit that connects social ventures and volunteers with expertise in diverse fields, and counts Ripple executive chairman Chris Larsen as a co-founder. RippleWorks has to date reportedly “worked on 70 projects in 55 countries.”
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IDB Invest and OPIC launch first gender lens investment fund for Latin America and the Caribbean
“With Fund Mujer, we are not only investing in women-owned and led enterprises. We are also investing in enterprises that provide quality employment and access to products and services that address critical barriers so that we may enhance women’s economic participation and success. With Fund Mujer we are moving beyond merely counting women; we are also valuing women,” added OPIC Managing Director for Global Women’s Issues Kathryn Kaufman.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Latin America
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Safaricom, Telkom Integrate Mpesa and T-kash Services
The country's mobile money transfer platform is set for a new frontier after the announcement of an integration of Safaricom's and Telkom's services.
- Categories
- Finance, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Introducing the Mobile Money Regulatory Index
The Mobile Money Regulatory Index is intended to support dialogue between regulators and mobile money providers on reforms that can promote market growth. For the development community, the Index will help identify subject areas and markets where technical assistance to governments and regulators can have the biggest impact.
- Categories
- Finance
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