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Study: Mobile Money Lifts Kenyan Households Out of Poverty
Since 2008, MIT economist Tavneet Suri has studied the financial and social impacts of Kenyan mobile-money services, which allow users to store and exchange monetary values via mobile phone. Her work has shown that these services have helped Kenyans save more money and weather financial storms, among other benefits.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Investing in Africa: How to Do it Right
There are two ways that Africa presents itself to the world. There is the untapped growth model, where the region is positioned as a future global economic powerhouse; and the troubled, post-colonial legacy profile, of a “dark continent” mired in poverty, corruption and the toxic mix of ethnic and religious rivalries that perpetuate civil conflicts—a civilization at war with itself. In healthcare, statistics on public health show Africa posting major gains against infant mortality and life expectancy.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- public health
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Cash Still Trumps Mobile Payments and Bitcoin in Africa
According to the World Bank’s Global Financial Inclusion Index, Africa has the highest mobile money adoption rate in the world. Worldwide, only 2 percent of the population possesses a mobile money account; in Africa, 12 percent of the population uses mobile money.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Telcos to bankroll Zimbabwe’s Health Fund
Zimbabwe telecommunications companies are in for another fiscal whammy - a new 5 cents levy on every US$1 worth of airtime and data top ups which will go into a Health Fund to resource the country's ailing health delivery sector.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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HIV prevention initiative seeks to break barriers in sub-Saharan Africa
Ntokozo Zakwe went to a health facility to ask for information about safe sex when she was 19 years old but the negative response she received from a nurse discouraged her from going back. Most girls and young women in South Africa who try to seek information on how to have safe sex are either shut down or discriminated against, Zakwe said.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenya Promises Crackdown As Teachers Push for Ban on UK-Backed Private Schools
Kenya promised on Monday to crack down on schools operating illegally after teachers called for a ban on a chain of low-cost private schools backed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Five west African countries ban ‘dirty diesel’ from Europe
Five west African countries have announced measures to end the practice of European oil companies and traders exporting “African quality” diesel – highly polluting fuels that could never be sold in Europe.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Yellow Fever Epidemic in Africa Shows Gaps in Vaccine Pipeline
The yellow fever outbreak in Africa this year came closer to being a disaster than is widely recognized, public health experts recently disclosed. The epidemic also revealed glaring weaknesses in the emergency vaccine supply pipeline.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa