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Microlending Goes Digital, Piling Debt on Millions
In Kenya, Africa’s financial-technology pioneer, there are now more people keeping money on their phones than in banks. Almost one-fifth of mobile-banking borrowers there defaulted last year – like Barasa, who has failed to pay three separate loans.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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In Sierra Leone, New Kiva Protocol Uses Blockchain to Benefit Unbanked
The National Civil Registration Commission developed the national digital identity platform with support from Kiva, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that allows people to lend money to low-income people around the world, as well as the United Nations Capital Development Fund and the United Nations Development Programme.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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China’s Proposed Digital Currency Will Help Banks Bridge Gap on Mobile Payment, Curb Dominance of Alipay, Wechat
Banks’ participation in the central bank’s digital currency will help them better compete with third party payment network operators.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Survey: Cash Payment Still ‘King’ in Kenya, Despite Digital Money Growth
According to the report, just under half of domestic remittances and 30 per cent of bill payments are now made via mobile money.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Bringing Digital Financial Inclusion to Women: The Impact of an Integrated Ecosystem Approach
Despite many global initiatives aimed at catalyzing formal banking, almost 1 billion women remain excluded from the financial economy. According to Ankur Seth and Neha Kumar at Intellecap, it's now clear that financial inclusion for women cannot be attained by simply giving them an account or internet access. Instead, it will require an integrated digital financial ecosystem designed for women's needs – an approach Intellecap is piloting in India.
- Categories
- Finance
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National Bank of Pakistan Partners With WorldRemit for Digital Money Transfers
The Pakistani diaspora living in over 50 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada and Australia, can now send money to NBP cash pickup locations using their smartphone.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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NilePay Mobile Money Launches in South Sudan to Widen Financial Inclusion
“NilePay Mobile Service’s partnership with Zain South Sudan is part of the company’s long-term strategy to enable eCommerce and digitize financial services across the country,” said Darius Mobe, Director, NilePay Mobile Money.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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South Africa Fintech Startup Jumo Appoints Africa and India CEOs
The startup said in a statement today that the appointments come as part of a new organisational structure to support JUMO’s expansion into new markets in Africa and Asia.
- Categories
- Finance
- Tags
- digital finance, fintech, startups
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