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Report: The State of Food and Agriculture 2017 – Leveraging food systems for inclusive rural transformation
Rural areas, too long seen as poverty traps, key to economic growth in developing countries. But sweeping transformations needed to unlock their potential to help feed and employ a younger, more crowded planet, says a new report.
- Categories
- Agriculture
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Common Cents Lab Opens Applications for 2018 Financial Services Cohort
Each year, the lab collaborates with chosen financial services providers to custom design, test, and launch new features and products that aim to increase financial well-being for 1.8 million low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in America.
- Categories
- Finance, Impact Assessment
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It’s about to get cheaper for over 500 million Africans to roam on their phone networks
Even as lower smartphone prices drive a digital revolution in Africa, many Africans still pay a significant amount of their income to make phone calls or surf the internet. According to the World Bank, Africans pay on average 25% of their monthly gross national income per capita in mobile cellular calls, compared to 11% in other developing nations.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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New development impact bond brings in big donors, provides biggest test of model to date
Gwokajja’s story is one of several thousand supported through Village Enterprise, a nongovernmental organization working to eliminate poverty in sub-Saharan Africa through entrepreneurship and innovation. The organization’s network of entrepreneurs is set to grow significantly through a new development impact bond that is trailblazing many firsts — the first in the world to focus specifically on poverty alleviation, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, and the first to bring on major donors, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.K. Department for International Development.
- Categories
- Investing
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Off-grid Solar set to triple in Africa
The IEA has found that the amount of power from solar grew by more than 50%, and has officially increased energy output globally at a faster rate than any other fuel. Off-grid solar will bring basic electricity services to almost 70 million more people in Asia and sub Saharan Africa
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Is Safaricom Entering the Ethiopian Market?
"We wish to categorically state that we are not engaged in any conversations with Ethio Telecom on this matter. Any information to the contrary is completely inaccurate," CEO Bob Collymore told The East African.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Chinese money dominates bitcoin, now its companies are gunning for blockchain tech
I meet Jack Liao, who runs a bitcoin mining firm called Lightning Asic. He leads me through a dark hutong, coming to a set of carved wooden double-doors. Pushing them open, we enter into the courtyard of a palatially renovated villa. This is my first look at the elusive “bitcoin club.”
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- blockchain, cryptocurrency, fintech
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TPG Seals Record $2 Billion for Fund Co-Led by Bono
The fund, which TPG raised in about seven months, surpassed its $1.5 billion target and hit its $2 billion hard cap, or the maximum amount of outside capital allowed by its agreement with investors. TPG employees plan to commit additional money before a final close.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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