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Report: Financial Inclusion Can Help Curb Detrimental Effects of Inequality
An academic from Queen Mary University of London has published a research paper which shows that financial inclusion could be a tool to curb the rise in poverty in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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Scaling Cleaner Cooking Solutions in East Africa: Acumen Discusses Its Kopagas Exit
This is not just a problem of the inconvenience of outdated technology, but of health: more than 4 million people—the majority of whom are women and girls—die each year from exposure to the air pollution produced by cooking with open fires in their homes. That’s more than the number of deaths each year from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa Attracted $3.9 Billion VC Deals in 6 Years
Fintechs, information technology firms, and other companies in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa attracted a total of 613 Venture Capital (VC) deals valued at $3.9 billion, between 2014 and 2019.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech, venture capital
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Viewpoint: Enhance Protection in Digital Financial Space
Over the past decade and half, digital innovations have transformed the financial sector in Kenya, generating significant benefits for consumers and the economy. As a result of the digital transformation, customers - many of whom were financially excluded or underserved - can now borrow loans, pay bills, transfer money and access their bank statements easily using their computer or mobile phone. This so-called financial inclusion miracle has mainly been driven by mobile money; as such, many of these digital financial services are based on M-Pesa, the revolutionary mobile money service launched in 2007 by Safaricom.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Bandhan Bank, Small Finance Banks in India Emerge as Job Creators Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
These lenders are in the process of raising staff strength by 5-10% in the next three-four months, although several others in the sector might be more circumspect. The new workforce will largely be deployed for client servicing and to boost repayment, people familiar with the matter said.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- microfinance
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Viewpoint: How 2020 Will Turn Us Into Better Impact Investors
One of the most reassuring things we’ve seen lately amidst the pandemic and the rallying for racial justice has been the way communities and industries have come together to give back and make an impact on those around them. But what will giving back and affecting change—both with our hearts and our wallets—look like once we emerge out of this?
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
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African Startups Can Apply for 2nd Edition of Inclusive Fintech 50
Applications have opened for the second edition of the Inclusive Fintech 50, which will identify 50 high-potential, early-stage and innovative fintech startups driving financial inclusion and resilience for the three billion financially underserved people worldwide.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Global COVID-19 Impact on Vaccines & Drugs Market Growth Is Mainly Attributed Due to Growing Number of People Infected With COVID-19 and Rising Funding for Vaccine Development – PMI
Technological advancements in the pharmaceutical sector comprising the development of nucleic acid vaccines that are DNA- and RNA-based, and which allow the human body to produce vaccine antigen. Such initiatives and activities are expected to support market growth to a substantial extent.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Tags
- vaccines
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