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After downturn, Islamic finance eyes profits, fintech: survey
Islamic banks and insurers are focusing on profitability and new financial products as the industry shifts away from years of containing the adverse impact of low oil prices, an industry body said on Wednesday.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Uganda’s Taxes on Mobile Money to Stifle Inclusion, say Financial Institutions
Proposed taxes on mobile money transactions are likely to negatively impact financial inclusion, according to a number of players involved in curbing financial exclusion.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press release: Mastercard and Unilever Break Down Barriers to Growth for Micro Entrepreneurs with First-of-its-Kind Digital Lending Platform
“Financial inclusion is a key enabler of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – lifting individuals out of poverty and supporting overall economic growth. By broadening our collaboration with Mastercard, working across sectors and including additional private and public partners, we are further expanding the positive impact of financial and economic inclusion” said Paul Polman, chief executive, Unilever.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Caveat Venditor: A New Model for Buyer Selection in Responsible Microfinance Equity Exits
Socially responsible investing is well understood, but what it means to be responsible as you "exit" or sell off equity is less clear. Daniel Rozas and Sam Mendelson studied a particularly difficult part of the exit process for microfinance investments - how to choose a buyer that is suitable for an MFI, its staff and its clients. They discuss their findings in a paper that they hope will help microfinance investors navigate the complicated terrain of "responsible exits."
- Categories
- Investing
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With 128.5m projected mobile subscriptions by 2025, Nigeria can achieve 80% financial inclusion
With unique mobile subscribers currently at 93.5 million, coupled with the projected growth, Nigeria is likely to hit its financial inclusion target for 2020.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Omidyar Network Makes Six New Investments that Address the Needs of the “Next Half Billion”
“Omidyar Network is looking to support early-stage businesses with the potential of creating access to jobs, education, healthcare, transportation, financial services, and government services for the NHB,” said Roopa Kudva, Omidyar Network partner and managing director, India.
- Categories
- Investing
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Viewpoint: Saving financial inclusion
I need no convincing that society requires people to be part of a formal financial system in order to thrive, nor that exclusion, whereby products and services are not available or are unaffordable, needs to be addressed. But it feels like financial inclusion has been engulfed by a focus on payments and transactions that misses its larger aim.
- Categories
- Finance
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From New York to Madagascar: Why I Moved My Fintech Startup to Africa
“Everyone has a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth.” That Mike Tyson quote rang true for Sidharth Garg, who was forced to go back to the drawing board after his Manhattan-based fintech startup's chatbot failed to engage customers. But that setback soon became an opportunity: Garg explains how shifting focus from the U.S. to Madagascar set the company on a new path to growth, in the latest post in NextBillion's "Course Correction in Social Enterprise" series.
- Categories
- Finance, Social Enterprise
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