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IFC Invests $50 Million in New LeapFrog Fund to Bolster Health, Financial Services Businesses in Africa
The latest fund will focus on growing businesses in healthcare and financial services by helping companies adopt digital solutions and offer new products that can reach underserved segments of the population.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance, Health Care, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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A $200 Billion Opportunity: What Payment Data Shows About the Rise of Africa’s Digital Economy
Africa’s digital economy is growing rapidly, and according to Agosta Liko at Pesapal, businesses, financial institutions and governments could add US $200 billion to the continent’s GDP in the next six years by supporting that growth. He shares payment data that highlights how, and where, digital transactions are happening in Africa — both online and in person — and explores what that means for the digital economy’s growth prospects in the region.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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In Pursuit of a Cashless Africa: Learning from Nigeria’s Struggle to Accelerate its Transition to Digital Finance
The use of cash for payments is dwindling globally, while the electronic payments industry is burgeoning. As Osahon Akpata at Ecobank points out, this growth is also happening in Africa, though cash still remains king. He highlights several factors that are driving both the growth of digital finance and the ongoing usage of cash on the continent, exploring how African countries can accelerate their transition to a cashless economy — and what they can learn from Nigeria's struggles in that area.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
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Understanding Digital Public Infrastructure: What it Means — and Why it Matters — to Businesses and Governments in Emerging Markets
In recent months, there has been an outpouring of media coverage and analysis on the topic of digital public infrastructure (DPI). David Porteous, Priya Vora, Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi and Peter Rabley explore the ongoing efforts to develop a shared understanding of what DPI means, and how it can impact global digital development. They urge DPI stakeholders to look beyond narrow, government-centered use cases and existing digital systems to envision next-generation applications based on public and private sector collaboration.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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US International DFC Approves $20 Million for Ummeed Housing Finance
The project is expected to create a positive impact in Tier 2, 3 & 4 cities of India by improving access to institutionalized credit through affordable housing finance.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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MFast Gets Backing from Wavemaker Partners to Increase Financial Services Access in Vietnam
MFast announced it has raised $6 million in its Series A funding round, led by Wavemaker Partners.
- Categories
- Finance, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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India supports African Development Bank’s Digital Financial Inclusion Drive in Africa with $2 Million Donation
The financial commitment for digital public infrastructure will leverage the lives of millions of unbanked and underserved Africans.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Visa Announces Launch of Africa Fintech Accelerator Program
New Visa initiative to support Africa’s Fintech start-ups and entrepreneurs, providing training, connections, technology, and investment opportunities for up to 40 fintechs each year.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital finance, fintech, startups