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Study: Mobile Money Lifts Kenyan Households Out of Poverty
Since 2008, MIT economist Tavneet Suri has studied the financial and social impacts of Kenyan mobile-money services, which allow users to store and exchange monetary values via mobile phone. Her work has shown that these services have helped Kenyans save more money and weather financial storms, among other benefits.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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It’s Never Been Better, Say Fintech Startups in India
One month of demonetisation has brought about an unprecedented surge in business volume for startups connecting customers with vendors cashlessly via a mobile wallet or simply a payment gateway.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech
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“Civic Tech” is One Antidote to Trumpism, and the Omidyar Network is Doubling Down Here
If you think about it, the age of Trump is tailor made for the Omidyar Network, and on several counts. First, this has never been an outfit that's placed lots of chips on securing big public policy wins in Washington, D.C.—or really even been fixated on policy at all. Instead, Omidyar has placed much of its faith in market solutions, as well as social entrepreneurs working in a decentralized fashion to reinvent the nonprofit sector and revitalize civic life. The fact that the capital of the free world is now in the hands of backward-looking reactionaries aiming to gut government makes Omidyar's vision of change all the more appealing.
- Categories
- Technology
- Tags
- innovation
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Bangladesh launches new investigation into Muhammad Yunus’ finances
Authorities have launched a new investigation into the financial affairs of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, his family, and the micro-credit agency Grameen Bank which he founded.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Investing in Africa: How to Do it Right
There are two ways that Africa presents itself to the world. There is the untapped growth model, where the region is positioned as a future global economic powerhouse; and the troubled, post-colonial legacy profile, of a “dark continent” mired in poverty, corruption and the toxic mix of ethnic and religious rivalries that perpetuate civil conflicts—a civilization at war with itself. In healthcare, statistics on public health show Africa posting major gains against infant mortality and life expectancy.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- public health
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Cash Still Trumps Mobile Payments and Bitcoin in Africa
According to the World Bank’s Global Financial Inclusion Index, Africa has the highest mobile money adoption rate in the world. Worldwide, only 2 percent of the population possesses a mobile money account; in Africa, 12 percent of the population uses mobile money.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Telcos to bankroll Zimbabwe’s Health Fund
Zimbabwe telecommunications companies are in for another fiscal whammy - a new 5 cents levy on every US$1 worth of airtime and data top ups which will go into a Health Fund to resource the country's ailing health delivery sector.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Mobile wallet firms see positive impact from new authentication rule in India
The removal of two-factor authentication for card transactions below Rs2,000 has made it easier for credit and debit card users, but digital wallets do not have much to worry from the change, industry executives and analysts said.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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