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Brazilian Development Bank Loans $100m to Banco do Nordeste do Brasil to Expand Microcredit
Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES), the Brazilian government’s development bank, reportedly has announced that it will loan USD 100 million to Banco do Nordeste do Brasil (BNB), a public bank operating in Brazil’s Northeastern Region. The investment will be made from the microcredit program of BNDES, and BNB will commit an additional BRL 42.8 million (USD 16.6 million) to the effort. The proceeds will be used to fund individual entrepreneurs as well as micro- and small enterprises (MSEs). The interest rate of the wholesale loan will be set according to the country’s Long-term Interest Rate (known as TJLP in portuguese), which currently stands at 5.5 percent, plus 1.1 percent [1].
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
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- lending
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Bill Gates Dismisses Criticism of High Prices for Vaccines
Criticising the cost of vaccines could lead to pharmaceutical companies withdrawing research funding, warns Gates, as donors pledge $7.5bn for immunisations of children in poor countries.
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- Health Care
- Tags
- vaccines
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Why 2015 Will Be a Game-Changer for Financial Inclusion in India
When it comes to digital finance, India punches below its weight. The 2014 Intermedia Financial Inclusion Insight (FII) Survey of 45,000 Indian adults found that 0.3% of adults use mobile money, compared to 76% in Kenya, 48% in Tanzania, 43% in Uganda, and 22% in Bangladesh.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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The Global Fund in China: Success Beyond the Numbers
In June, 2014, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria completed its support for operations in China.1 The 10-year partnership between China and the Fund measurably improved China's management of the three diseases, but it also created benefits that extend far beyond the metrics usually used to assess public health programmes. These benefits include deeper engagement with civil society organisations, stronger public health systems, and the implementation of innovative approaches for disease management. As China celebrates these achievements, it must also devise a roadmap for continuing its record of success, now that the Fund has left.
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- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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- public health
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With New CEO, What’s Next for the Global Impact Investing Network
The impact investing industry has grown in reputation and size over the past five years — and alongside it, the Global Impact Investing Network has evolved as well, with its membership increasing tenfold as it added products and services for the growing field.
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- Impact Assessment
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- impact investing
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Press Release: Columbia Business School Receives Generous Donation to Establish the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise
Columbia Business School today announced the creation of theTamer Center for Social Enterprise. The new center, made possible through a transformative endowment gift from Sandra and Tony Tamer will help develop a new generation of business leaders that understand how management can contribute to, enhance, and impact society and the environment. Additionally, it will serve as the educational, curricular, research, and strategic hub of all social entrepreneurship activities at Columbia.
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- Education
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4 Innovations On mHealth and POC Devices
There has been much talk about innovations in mobile health technologies among the international aid community in recent years. But now there’s a new kid on the block.
- Categories
- Health Care
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Alibaba Finance Arm Sets Up China Consumer Credit-Scoring System
The financial services affiliate of Alibaba (BABA.N) launched on Wednesday a system that will use the e-commerce giant's data trove to assess the creditworthiness of Chinese consumers and businesses with little or no history at traditional lenders.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- credit scoring
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