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Kazakhstan to get huge IFC loan for its microfinance
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a senior syndicated loan of $82 million equivalent in Kazakh tenge to “Microfinance organization “KMF” LLC, a leading Kazakh microfinance institution, to boost lending to micro and small enterprises, including women entrepreneurs and customers in rural areas of Kazakhstan, the press service of IFC said in a message.
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Bringing Technology to Microfinance in the Age of Data Scandals: European Microfinance Award Seeks Solutions
Fintech advances are often heralded for bringing financially excluded people into the mainstream. But Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent appearance before Congress is a stark reminder of the need for protection from – along with access to – technology. This year's European Microfinance Award is seeking organizations whose tech-enabled financial solutions place client protection at the forefront.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Fintech, Technology
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The Downside to Being Nice: Why is the Social Sector Allergic to Comparative Advertising?
Unlike retailers and manufacturers that use advertising to build their brands and generate sales, the nonprofit and social business sectors are curiously allergic to spending money on advertising – and, more specifically, to saying, "We're better than our competitors, and this is why!" According to Charlie Bresler, former Men's Wearhouse president, this is a major mistake: Now executive director of the nonprofit The Life You Can Save, Bresler explores the reasons for this reluctance – and imagines what could happen if the social sector used comparative advertising to attract donors and investors.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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Viewpoint: Exporting the (Micro) Revolution
Muhammad Yunus, the father of microcredit, thinks he knows how to fix capitalism, end poverty, and even get rid of carbon emissions. Here's what he’s missing.
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Bending the Arc of Humanity – Effective Development of Exponential Technologies to Serve Mankind
Exponential technologies such as big data, the internet of things and artificial intelligence can transform lives in poor countries. But Akhtar Badshah – who led Microsoft’s philanthropic efforts for 10 years – highlights some risks alongside that potential. The main question, he says, is how to bridge the gap between those who quickly benefit from these technologies, and those who are left behind.
- Categories
- Technology
- Tags
- agribusiness, Base of the Pyramid, business development, digital payments, education, entrepreneurship, financial innovation, financial services, fintech, global health, government, health care, healthcare technology, infectious diseases, poverty alleviation, public health, social enterprise, technology
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Faster, Lighter Touch and Group-based: A Different Approach to Poverty Graduation
The poverty graduation model has continued to show great promise in helping ultra-poor people develop sustainable livelihoods. But Dianne Calvi of Village Enterprise points out that those programs, as currently practiced, are often too expensive to scale. In advocating a more streamlined approach to poverty graduation, Calvi reveals key findings from a randomized control trial involving some of the poorest households across 138 villages in rural Uganda.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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The ‘Start Small, Stay Small’ Dilemma: How Nonprofit/Private Partnerships Can Boost Women-Owned Businesses
Women-owned businesses tend to start small and stay small, in part due to challenges accessing credit. They're also more likely to be discouraged from applying for financing for fear of being declined. Gina Harman, CEO of Accion's U.S. Network, and Andrea Jung, CEO of Grameen America, explain how their organizations are serving these entrepreneurs – and highlight some important ways this work can be expanded.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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Press release: IFC and Itaú Unibanco partner to improve financial education for women entrepreneurs in Brazil
IFC and Itaú will work to design and implement an eLearning video course directed to women entrepreneurs - owners or shareholders of businesses of all types and in any stage of maturity- in partnership with EduK, one of the largest online learning platforms in Latin America. The content of the course will include methodologies to evaluate the profitability of businesses as well as classes on growth strategies and techniques, and financial management.
- Source
- Press release
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Latin America
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