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Analysis: Unveiling the Global Findex Database 2021 in Five Charts
This latest edition of the Global Findex Database was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, updating financial inclusion indicators.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Global
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Headline Closes Over $950 Million to Invest in Early-Stage Startups
Headline will continue to support the next generation of industry-defining companies with three new, regionally-focused funds in North America, Europe, and Latin America.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Global
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The Controversial Way Fashion Brands Gauge Sustainability Is Being Suspended
Now the organization that oversees the ratings is mothballing its consumer-facing portion, and expediting an independent review of the system’s data and methodology.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Region
- Global
- Tags
- business development, data
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China Agrees to Invest $3 Billion in Indonesia Sovereign Wealth Fund
China's Silk Road Fund (SRF) has signed a framework agreement to invest up to 20 billion yuan ($2.99 billion) in Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Efficiency vs. Effectiveness: What Low- and Middle-Income Countries Can Learn from a Key Business Mistake in the Developed World
Over the centuries, free enterprise has excelled at driving efficiencies and innovations, from the cotton gin to the sewing machine, that have powered societal development. But author and entrepreneur Ed Chambliss argues that, as societies grow more prosperous, an overemphasis on business efficiency – as embodied by the concept of shareholder primacy – is no longer enough. He urges businesses in developed countries to broaden their focus to include all their stakeholders' diverse needs – and encourages businesses in developing countries to adopt this broader definition of sustainable success.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Pushing the Water Boundaries: How Social Impact Incentives Can Make WASH Enterprises More Innovative, Impactful and Catalytic
The water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector is ripe for change, as it is far from being on track to achieve universal access to safe drinking water (SDG 6). According to Shabana Abbas at Aqua for All, and Bjoern Struewer and Patrizia Baffioni at Roots of Impact, impact entrepreneurs can drive the sector forward, but their funders will need to move away from the usual grant models to explore more innovative and sustainable financing approaches. They discuss one such model – Social Impact Incentives – and how it's being applied successfully to support WASH enterprises.
- Categories
- Finance, Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise, WASH
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Sustainable Solutions for the World’s Failing Food Systems: Acceso’s CEO Discusses its Innovative Approach
The war in Ukraine has weakened global food systems that were already reeling from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – not to mention the escalating climate crisis. In this interview, Acceso CEO James Jenkin discusses how his organization is responding to that urgent need by taking an innovative, market-driven, farmer-focused approach to what’s becoming one of the most critical challenges of our time.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Social Enterprise
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Leading the Way to Greater Impact: Why Addressing the Lack of Lead Investors is Key to Building Stronger Startups in Emerging Markets
Raising capital is a critically important function for startups. But as Patricia Chin-Sweeney at Beyond Capital Ventures explains, there is typically a shortage of investors who are willing to lead an investment round – and until a lead is secured, the process of capital raising is in limbo. And unfortunately, many startup founders are unaware of this, wasting precious time speaking to funders who cannot lead the round. She explores the value that a lead investor role can provide to both startups and investors, and discusses the need for more lead investors in Africa and other emerging markets.
- Categories
- Investing
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