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A Power Outage and Mobile Money Blackout Expose the Vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s Economy
In what seems like a never-ending cycle of misery for ordinary Zimbabweans in the last year, it is likely there will be more power cuts and ultimately more economic disruption due to the country’s currency troubles and—now, climate change.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ethiopia Offers New Hope for Phone Providers With African Dreams
As part of an ambitious reform program, the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed plans to award telecommunications licenses to two private operators next year, and sell a minority stake in Ethio Telecom.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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West Africa Finds an Unlikely Home in Silicon Valley
To bridge the gap between Nigeria’s technology and professional, on-the-job training in Silicon Valley, SVNED sponsored introductory and educational events in both shores. This helped immerse students, entrepreneurs, and dignitaries in the cultures, knowledge and business best practices of the Silicon Valley. Williams hopes to replicate such an ecosystem across the African continent.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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In China, Mental Health Care Goes Virtual
This March, JAMA Psychiatry published what researchers say is the first ever randomized controlled trial of a therapist-free VR intervention of acrophobia, or fear of heights. It found the technology to be effective, inexpensive and well-received by patients.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Here’s Why Social Startups in India Fail to Attract VC Funds
Social startups in India haven’t been able to get the spotlight of investors to attract billions of dollars much like regular technology startups. Moreover, the number of social startups pales in comparison to the number of technology startups.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- Base of the Pyramid, scale, startups
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Does Facebook Need A Humanitarian Partner For Its New Digital Currency?
Libra, according to its website, wants to "reinvent" money by making a financial transaction as cheap and simple as "sending a text message or sharing a photo."
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Vodacom Poised to Widen M-Pesa Availability
“We think it’s time to level the playing field and so it doesn’t matter how big your GSM base is, customers should be able to access our service,” he added. “We very much see M-Pesa becoming like an OTT service.”
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech
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Viewpoint: Biometrics and Aid
The use of biometric data in aid delivery has become the focus of fierce debate in the past few weeks, as the World Food Programme paused food deliveries in Yemen’s capital city after Houthi rebels refused to allow the registration of recipients’ details.
- Categories
- Technology
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