NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Invest over $75 Million in African Universities for Disease Research

Stellenbosch University, the University of Ghana, and the University of Pretoria are among the benefiting universities.

Source

Nairametrics (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Education, Health Care

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

public health, research, vaccines

Mastercard and MTN Group Fintech Partner to Drive Acceleration of Mobile Money Ecosystem in Africa Across 13 Markets

The partnership is set to launch a prepaid virtual card tailored for MTN’s MoMo customers, granting them access to over 100 million acceptance points worldwide.

Source

MTN (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

digital inclusion, digital payments, financial inclusion, fintech, mobile finance, partnerships, remittances

Arrest of Binance Executives Shakes up Nigeria’s Crypto Ecosystem, Again

The arrest, first reported by the Financial Times on Wednesday, follows a move last week that saw telecom providers shut off user access to the websites of Binance.

Source

Semafor (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

cryptocurrency, fintech

African Data Center Firm Teraco to Build Out Giant Power Plant

Teraco raised $104 million with Absa Bank for renewables.

Source

Bloomberg (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

data, digital inclusion, energy access, renewable energy

COMESA, World Bank Announce $50 Million Energy Access Initiative

The program will engage specialized local and international firms and private investors to provide technical services.

Source

Energy Capital & Power (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

energy access, off-grid energy, renewable energy

AFC and d.light Achieve Off-Grid Solar Industry Milestone with Full Repayment of Senior Debt for $110 Million Securitization Facility

AFC’s groundbreaking USD$110 million securitization vehicle, BLK1, the first securitization instrument for Pay-As-You-Go solar home systems, has achieved a full exit for its senior lenders months ahead of schedule.

Source

Sun-Connect (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

off-grid energy, PAYGO finance, renewable energy, solar

Analysis: Swedfund Invests $5 Million in Bridge Bank Microfinance to Enhance Financial Inclusion in Côte D’Ivoire

BBM has expressed its intention to narrow the market gap by tailoring its offerings specifically to women entrepreneurs and MSMEs led by women.

Source

Innovation Village (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, employment, financial inclusion, lending, microfinance, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs

South Africa’s Hohm Energy Raises $8 Million to Drive Solar Revolution

Hohm Energy will accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar in South Africa by investing in its new cutting-edge climate fintech strategy.

Source

Tech Build Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

energy access, fintech, renewable energy, solar