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Field of View: How a Chilli Cash Crop Helps Subsistence Farmers Shape Their Future
During a three-year process designed to assess the impact of growing a chilli cash crop on small farmers living in southern Africa, it was discovered that when a family earned just $500 more of net income per year, the money materially impacted at least two categories of their basic human needs. But the most profound impact, writes Tanner Methvin, was that of self-determination.
- Categories
- Agriculture
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Development Engineering: Scaling Tech Solutions from Ideation, to Pilot … to the World?
Scaling technologies that promote economic development is challenging. That's why UC Berkeley established the Development Impact Lab. Natasha Beale, the lab's manager, discusses the concept of "development engineering" and gives examples to illustrate that large-scale impact is indeed possible with the right mix of targeted funding, technological innovation and rigorous field work.
- Categories
- Education, Technology, Telecommunications
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Social Enterprise’s Achilles Heel: How the Information Deficit Limits Scale and Impact in India
While academic writing around social entrepreneurship has risen exponentially in the West, the same has not been true for Africa, Latin America and India – where there's also a general lack of information concerning diverse business models, innovative approaches and lessons learned, according to Devanshi Vaid. That's why India Development Review was created.
- Categories
- Education
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Machine Learning Meets Credit Scoring: How it Can Help Reduce Loan Delinquency Costs
Investment in predictive algorithms for credit scoring is a no-brainer for sophisticated digital financial service providers. Brick-and-mortar financial institutions that are just beginning to explore technology applications should follow suit, according to BFA, because credit scoring optimizes three business layers that improve the overall bottom line.
- Categories
- Finance
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The Great Equalizer: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Heart Health Care More Accessible
Cardiotrack began as a three-lead ECG machine but has evolved into a complete cardiac care platform designed to make heart health care delivery more accessible, especially in underserved areas. The firm is now using artificial intelligence analytics, Internet of Things sensors and cloud-based storage to diagnose cardiovascular disease, and even (potentially) to predict and forestall heart attacks.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise, Technology
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I’m a Victim of DFS: Digitizing My Dollars is Fine, the Problem is Digitizing Me
The whole framework for digital money is inadequate, says Ignacio Mas, because people don't have a proper digital identity. That's partly due to governments and financial institutions having different needs. He recommends dividing identity rules into two: one set that serves financial integrity and law enforcement needs, and another that fulfills the bank's fiduciary duty toward customers.
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- Uncategorized
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Beyond ‘Pilotitis’: Three Critical Success Factors for National Digital Health Strategies
The ecosystem of digital health solutions and programs remains disjointed and many countries are moving toward the complex task of implementing national strategies to coordinate this fragmentation. A new report highlights eight countries that are effectively developing and implementing national digital health strategies, and finds three common success factors.
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- Health Care, Technology
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Building an App in Africa: Lessons From an Aspiring Tech Disruptor
The motorcycle taxi, or boda boda, industry is the second-highest employer in Uganda, but is marked by rising crime and road accidents. SafeBoda, founded in 2015, wants to change this through an app that connects its community of trained, professional drivers with passengers who are looking for a safer ride. The company's co-founder discusses what they've learned so far about building an app in Africa.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications, Transportation
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