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Developing Africa Through Effective, Socially Responsible Investing
VENTURES AFRICA – The SME space is seeing tremendous growth in Africa, with easier access to funds from financial institutions and government policies encouraging sector growth.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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New private equity fund targets microfinance institutions for women
It’s been a while in the making, but this week Women’s World Banking finally closed its first private equity fund to invest in microfinance enterprises that support women.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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South Africa’s cashless future relies on localisation, not innovation
South Africa’s perceived ‘failure to launch’ in respect to mobile money needs to be put into a global context. In the latest MasterCard Mobile Payments Readiness Index, only four countries – Singapore, Canada, the US and Kenya – score higher than 40 out of a possible 100. The inflection point, according to the report, sits at 60, highlighting the fact that in most cases mobile payments has been a solution looking for a problem.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenya’s mobile innovation brings digital money closer
Kenyan financial services heavyweight Equity Bank is planning to roll out mobile banking services in July, using innovative paper-thin SIM technology.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Adarsh Credit Co-op Reaches India’s Rural Poor With Mobile Tech
Mobile phones are a key way to expand financial inclusion to rural areas across emerging markets, as M-Pesa has demonstrated in Kenya. In India, Adarsh Credit Co-operative Society reaches one million members through 800 branches and more than 100,000 financial advisors who travel through villages taking deposits or disbursing money by linking to the bank through their mobile phones.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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How We Cope With MDGs Challenges
As the global community winds down the efforts towards the Millennium Development Goals, countries’ efforts are coming under scrutiny. In this interview with OLUOKUN AYORINDE, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol, gives insight into the progress so far recorded by the country and others
- Categories
- Health Care
- Tags
- public health
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Rural education firm Hippocampus raises $2.4M from ADB, Unitus, Khosla Impact
Hippocampus operates 128 learning centres in Karnataka with a student base of over 7,500.
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- Education
- Region
- South Asia
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Corporate ‘Prizes’ Driving Innovation
As the global trend for corporate prize winning competitions to drive innovation increases, a new US report offers guidance for the public sector, Not for Profits and philanthropic foundations on cultivating the winning opportunities.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- philanthropy
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