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Solar power pay-as-you-go projects in Africa are getting major funding
Services that allow customers to pay for solar equipment and service in small installments have picked up momentum in the past couple of years, particularly in East Africa. Two firms that supply solar power products with pay-as-you-go products have raised a total of $75 million in financing this month to back up that long-held vision.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press release: Social Impact Bonds reach global mass: 108 projects launched in 24 countries
The field has seen impressive growth since the first project was pioneered by Social Finance UK in 2010 in Peterborough, with a goal of reducing reoffending among short-sentenced prisoners, a chronic challenge in the UK criminal justice system. This summer it was announced that the Peterborough Social Impact Bond reduced reoffending by 9% and investors were repaid in full, with a 3% annualized return.
- Categories
- Investing
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Jibu Announces Completion of $7 Million Series B Financing
Jibu, a social enterprise that has reinvented the traditional franchise model to equip emerging market entrepreneurs to build solutions that close infrastructure gaps and ensure access to basic human necessities, announces the completion of its $7 million Series B financing round, bringing its total raised to more than $10 million. The Company will use the funds to accelerate its launch of 1,000 drinking water franchises in at least a dozen new countries by 2022.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Stop Talking About How CSR Helps Your Bottom Line
Companies are also finding that CSR efforts — such as sustainability initiatives, corporate foundations, employee volunteer programs, and donations to charity — can be important tools for attracting and motivating employees. Research has shown that various forms of prosocial incentives (workers get rewarded not with money, but with the firm engaging in some act to benefit society) indeed increase productivity in simple and complex tasks, increase retention, and even lower employees’ wage demands.
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Nigeria to wield axe on failing mobile money brands
The newspaper tipped the majority of the 21 companies operating services in the country to fall foul of tough new cash requirements. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rules, effective from the end of December 2017, stated operators must have NGN1 billion ($2.8 million) in reserves.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech, mobile finance, regulations
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New York’s Giant Pension Fund Doubles Climate-Smart Investment
The $2 billion boost was announced at the Investors Summit on Climate Risk, where top fund managers discussed finance for a low-carbon, clean energy future.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- North America
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India’s Payment Banks: A Reality Check
The idea of financial inclusion, particularly in developing markets, has always met with challenges pertaining to accessibility and affordability. The RBI and the Government have tackled these challenges in numerous ways and have made substantial progress, but problems remain in reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, namely, the illiterate, low-income and rural population.
- Region
- South Asia
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Rwanda becomes first poor country to provide eye care for all
Dr Jennifer Yip, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explained the vital importance of looking after people’s sight. “Without the resources to access eye care you are significantly more likely to become blind.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- public health
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