NextBillion - A WDI Publication

ICT Vital in War Against Poverty

THE application of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in gathering, analysing and disseminating market information to businesses and agricultural producers has been cited as a significant strategy in poverty reduction. The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing, Dr Shaban Mwinjaka, made the remark in Dar es Salaam over the weekend while opening a stakeholders’ meeting on Management Information Systems (MIS) Strategy, operational Framework...

Source

allAfrica.com (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

The Sticky Challenge Facing Africa

As the food crisis in the Horn of Africa continues, so do the campaigns asking for support and donations. Some of the money raised goes on the purchase of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs), small packets of a sticky, peanut butter-like paste, fortified with minerals and vitamins, that can reverse severe malnutrition within six weeks. Products such as Pl...

Source

The Guardian (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Microfinance Banks to Construct 500 Houses

Microfinance Banks in Lagos, under the auspices of the National Association of Microfinance Banks, Lagos State Chapter, NAMBLAG, have pledged to undertake a micro-housing project that will see them catering for the housing needs of a vast majority of the low income earners in the society. Chairman of the Association, Mr. Olufemi Babajide, in his address to members in the report for the 2010 financial year, said the association plans to build 500 houses for the active poor with flexible ...

Source

Vanguard (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Uncategorized

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Majority of Indian MFIs May Have to Shut Shop

Mumbai: At least 80% of microfinance institutions (MFIs) may have to shut down in the next two-three years because of tough new regulatory requirements laid down by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and a shortage of funds, industry executives warn. For MFIs categorized as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), which are run as for-profit organizations, the threat comes from RBI regulations pertaining to minimum funds, loan provisions and capital adequacy. The reluctance of commercial b...

Source

livemint.com (link opens in a new window)

Region

South Asia

?More Poor People Own Mobile Phones, But Productive Use Still a Far Cry’

NEW DELHI, DEC. 19: Hamid owns a grocery shack in a village. He travels about 80 km once in 15 days to get stuff to stock up his store. Every year his village gets flooded during the rains, leaving him with no earnings during that time. But, one, small device has changed his life. After he got a mobile phone, Hamid does not need to travel 80 km and lug stuff for his store. He simply calls, places the order and gets stuff delivered. It costs him a bit for the cartage, but the...

Source

Business Line (link opens in a new window)

Region

South Asia

Google Joins Seattle Angels to Bankroll Vittana

Vittana , the Seattle non-profit that’s facilitating micro-loans to students in developing countries, has received a $250,000 grant from Google. Others backing the organization include entrepreneurs Hadi and Ali Partovi; former Microsoft VP Mike Murray; Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman; BuddyTV co-founder Andy Liu; Founder’s Co-op’s Chris DeVore; TeachStreet CEO Dave Schappell and others. Vittana founder Kushal Chakrabarti - a f...

Source

GeekWire (link opens in a new window)

Social Entrepreneurs: Gary Hattem and Asad Mahmood

When Gary Hattem and Asad Mahmood of Deutsche Bank AG closed the $15 million Eye Fund I in 2010, they completed what had become a more than five-year endeavor. "When it started, the problems were conceptual. People were not ready for it," says Mahmood, a managing director who oversees $500 million in loans and investments. "The common perception was that bringing debt into hospitals that are serving the poo...

Source

The Deal Magazine (link opens in a new window)

Mobile Banking to Transform Nigeria’s Economy, says GT Bank Boss

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), Mr. Segun Agbaje said Wednesday that the introduction of the mobile money- a mobile payment and remittance services, into the country would bring about positive transformation of payment system in the economy. Agbaje said this at the official launch of the bank’s mobile money product, in partnership with MTN. He explained that the innovation was as a prompt step towards financial...

Source

This Day Live (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa