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Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Announces Capacity Development Fund Winners
he Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) announced the winners of the fifth round of the ANDE Capacity Development Fund (CDF). Commenced in 2009, the fund seeks to increase the productivity and effectiveness of ANDE members, while creating tools and insights that can help the small and growing business (SGB) sector as a whole. This round awarded six grants totaling $300,000, with each winner receiving $50,000. Total funds disbursed over the past five years now reaches $2.1 million.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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Malaria — the first disease beaten by mobile?
The fight against malaria, one of the world’s most killer diseases, urgently needs an injection of mobile technology. “Malaria threatens half the globe. By some accounts it has killed more people than any other cause in human history,” Martin Edlund, CEO of Malaria No More, told Devex at the Social Good Summit in New York. The organization — founded by U.N. special envoy for the disease Ray Chambers — has just launched its new “Power of One” campaign, which links mobile phones around the world with a tracking program for malaria testing and treatment supplies, so individuals can track the impact of their charitable donations.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Tags
- public health
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New service uses mobile phones to reduce maternal mortality
For many rural expectant and new mothers, health care providers may be far away, but new technology is bringing them close through the mobile phone, now almost ubiquitous even in the poorest corners of the world.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- public health
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Poor are more trustworthy and bankable, says India’s Finance Minister
Seeking to promote financial inclusion, India's Finance Minister P Chidambaram today called upon banks to focus on poor customers who are more trustworthy and "bankable" as compared to large borrowers.
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- Uncategorized
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Airtel Money and Ecobank in mobile money partnership
Bharti Airtel has announced a partnership with Ecobank to deliver Airtel Money to nine countries across Africa with Airtel operations. The partnership will make it possible for Airtel customers in the countries with businesses with Ecobank to access secure, convenient and instant mobile financial services on the go.
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- Uncategorized
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Financial Innovation Goes to School
Later this month, the United Nations will discuss a high-level report on global development priorities for the period following the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which expire in 2015. Quality education is one of the global priorities that world leaders will be taking up.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
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The Sharks of Microfinance and the Future of Impact Investing
Both impact investing and microfinance are market-based solutions designed to address economic gaps within society. However, the notion of profiting from the poor is still a contentious debate at the cornerstone of these modern financial innovations, and impact investing is no exception with its primary target being emerging markets.
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- Uncategorized
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Safaricom targets public transportation with M-Pesa
Safaricom is eyeing the matatu industry with a service that will enable commuters to pay fares using mobile money through M-Pesa pay bill numbers. The telco said special till numbers will be allocated to public service vehicle (PSV) operators to allow commuters make payments without incurring transaction charges.
- Categories
- Transportation
- Tags
- transportation
