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British International Investment Partners with Ecobank DRC to Expand Sustainable Financing for SMEs in the DRC
The facility will target sectors critical to the country’s economic development, job creation and more resilient supply chains in the real economy, including agriculture and agro‑processing, industrial, infrastructure, climate‑aligned projects and renewable energy, as well as local entrepreneurship.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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7 Shifts That Could Unlock Millions of Blue Jobs in the Ocean Economy
More than 50 million jobs could be added to the ocean economy — or nearly 40 million jobs could be lost — depending on whether countries invest in sustainable industries, worker training and healthy marine ecosystems.
- Region
- Global
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Africa’s Energy Future Needs More Than ‘Trickle-Down Electronomics’: Why the Debate Around False Trade-Offs Risks Leaving Millions Behind
Africa’s energy access debate is increasingly focused on the question of whether to prioritize household access or industrial and productive uses that can drive economic growth. But as Ryan Kilpatrick and Patrick K. Tonui at GOGLA argue, the deeper challenge is about understanding how electricity demand, income generation and productivity evolve in practice — and determining how best to balance the technologies, delivery models, financing structures and timelines involved in widespread electrification. They discuss these overlapping factors, and push back against the concept of “trickle-down electronomics” — i.e., the assumption that prioritizing industry will enable governments to expand grids to unserved areas and allow households to afford electricity over time.
- Categories
- Energy
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Press Release: IFC and Standard Chartered Partner on Supply Chain Finance to Support African Businesses
The risk-sharing facility will cover up to $300 million in supply chain and trade finance assets originated by Standard Chartered in Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: The Global Edtech Boom Is Fading as Investors Look Elsewhere
Venture capital is moving away from K-12 edtech worldwide as investors prioritize AI tools and workforce training with clearer returns.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- Global
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Analysis: Inside Southeast Asia’s Scam Compounds: A Trafficked Worker Tells of Fraud, Coercion and Torture
Many powerful entities, including criminal organizations, businesses and politicians, have an interest in the system continuing. If scam compounds close in Cambodia, they will open elsewhere.
- Categories
- Technology, Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Viewpoint: Philanthropy Is Underestimating AI. Here’s How to Catch Up
If you are operating a philanthropy and you think your only engagement with AI needs to be in your internal practices or in “AI for XYZ” (eg., better farming), I ask you to consider doing more.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Global
-
India’s Snabbit Closes $56 Million Round as Investor Interest in On-Demand Home Services Heats Up
Snabbit’s fundraise comes as investor interest in India’s on-demand home services sector heats up.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- employment, gig economy, startups
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