-
The ABC Funds Invests $1 Million in High Impact Ag-Tech Apollo Agriculture
The Agri-Business Capital Fund (ABC Fund) has invested USD1 million in Apollo Agriculture (Apollo), a Kenyan ag-tech which uses machine learning and automated operations technology to help small scale farmers access the resources they need to maximise their profitability.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Mastercard and Zamtel Partner to Transform Payments in Zambia
Mastercard and Zamtel has announced entering into a strategic partnership that will enable Zamtel Mobile Money customers to make safe and seamless digital payments on the Mastercard network including international e-commerce transactions.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Press Release: Expanding Digital and Financial Inclusion: World Bank Supports Morocco’s Reforms for Social and Economic Resilience
The World Bank today approved a US $450 million loan to support momentum in Morocco for reforms designed to increase public access to financial and digital services.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Entrepreneurship, Finance
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
-
Press Release: Lack of Digital Infrastructure Risks Leaving Millions of Rural Families in Poverty – IFAD Makes Urgent Call on International Day of Family Remittances
Despite a massive increase in migrants sending money home via digital transfers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of their rural family members struggle to access mobile banking services which could help lift them out of poverty.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance
- Region
- Global
-
The Resilience of Indian Microfinance: Why the Sector Has Successfully Navigated the COVID-19 Pandemic
When a crisis hits a financial system or economy at large, the microfinance sector is usually among the worst impacted, since it caters to the most economically vulnerable segments of the population. As Sudip Bandyopadhyay at Inditrade explains, that's what happened to Indian microfinance when COVID-19 struck — yet the sector has shown remarkable resilience in weathering the pandemic. He explores some effective measures Indian microfinance institutions and policymakers have taken to address these historic challenges.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
-
Supporting Microfinance During the Pandemic: Lessons From a COVID-19 Response Program
The COVID-19 crisis has had serious impacts on the microfinance industry and the micro and small enterprises it typically serves, leading to a decrease in both the quality and volume of microfinance institution (MFI) portfolios. Mathilde Bauwin of ADA explains how the organization designed and implemented a response program to help its partner MFIs overcome the pandemic's challenges. She shares lessons learned during the process, which could be useful in helping MFIs navigate future crises.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
-
Opportunity or Threat: Are Healthy Partnerships Possible Between Digital Financial Services and Microfinance Institutions in Bangladesh?
Microfinance institutions in Bangladesh reach over 32 million customers with a loan portfolio of around US $9 billion. According to Jakirul Islam at Bank Asia, partnerships with digital financial services (DFS) could benefit both microfinance and DFS providers and their customers – but these partnerships are not functioning at their full potential. He shares four key benefits that are driving interest in these collaborations, and explores their inherent challenges – and some partnership models that could address them.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
-
Preparing Community Health Workers to Deploy the COVID-19 Vaccine: Five Lessons on Digital Training Learned From the Ebola Crisis
Though COVID-19 deaths continue to rise around the globe, growing access to vaccines provides a ray of hope. As Monica Amponsah, Bobbi Gray and Gigi Gatti at Grameen Foundation explain, community health workers can play a key role in bringing the vaccine to vulnerable communities in the developing world. They discuss the digital solutions Grameen Foundation developed to help community health workers support the Ebola vaccine trials in Sierra Leone, and share five lessons for leveraging mobile tools to help these workers deploy COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care, Technology
Parent Organization
