-
Cambodia Has Its Own Mobile Payment App, But Will It Catch On Beyond Phnom Penh?
Pi Pay, although little-known outside of its native Cambodia, has scaled quickly to become a ubiquitous digital wallet solution and the first e-commerce app to gain real traction in a city where many residents still refuse to trust credit cards and banks.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
-
Fields of Gold? Jana seeks new money, allies with impact hedge fund
Wall Street investor Barry Rosenstein’s new impact investing fund aimed at serving environmental and social causes could, if he plays his cards right, enhance his traditional business of pushing companies to boost earnings.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Press release: Largest Non-Governmental Climate Insurance Program Launches for African & Asian Smallholder Farmers
Over 690,000 families totalling up to four million people living in six low-income countries stand to benefit from a new climate insurance programme launched today by VisionFund International, World Vision’s microfinance arm and Global Parametrics, a new venture funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and by the InsuResilience Investment Fund, set up by German development bank KfW and managed by Swiss-based impact investment manager BlueOrchard Finance. Financing for the initial preparation and assessment required to implement the programme came from the Rockefeller Foundation and FMO, the Dutch development bank.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Press release: IIX Supports India-based ERC Eye Care in Securing US$1 Million Investment
ERC Eye Care (ERC), an impact enterprise that delivers accessible, affordable and inclusive eye care to low-income persons in Northeast India, has raised a US$1 million pre-Series A round. A consortium of five investors was brought together by Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), led by existing investors Ankur Capital and Ennovent. Amongst the round’s investors was a strategic investment from the North East Development Finance Initiative (NEDFi), a Government of India initiative making its first impact-focused investment. Two international investors from Japan and Europe also participated in the consortium.
- Categories
- Health Care, Impact Assessment
- Region
- South Asia
-
On Philanthropy: 6 ways the world of giving could change in 2018
When it comes to the world of philanthropy, 2018 promises to be transformational. Pessimists are concerned about the impact of new federal tax laws, the increase in income inequality and the growing need for critical social services. Optimists see more reason for hope, believing that we have entered the “golden age of giving.”
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North America
-
U.S. ‘socially screened’ funds draw second-biggest inflows ever
The industry remains relatively small, with an estimated $2.6 trillion in funds that screen investments based on companies’ social and environmental impact, compared with $16.3 trillion in all funds, according to the Investment Company Institute trade group.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Does Rwanda need a law on social enterprises?
People running social enterprises in Rwanda are increasingly concerned that there is no law governing social enterprises in the country which could have provided tax exemptions for their companies.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- regulations, scale
-
Fintech must serve the real economy, Chinese regulator says
In a speech at the Asian Financial Forum on Monday, Jiang Yang, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said the development of fintech should support the wider economy, instead of profiting only "a small group of people."
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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.