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Viewpoint: Cambodia’s interest rate cap will hurt rural families
On March 13, the National Bank of Cambodia announced a major new policy. Starting April 1, all microfinance institution operating in Cambodia will be required to lend at interest rates no higher than 18 percent per year. This is a deeply misguided regulation that will undo over a decade’s worth of successful financial policies.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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World Bank approves $450m for banking, financial access in Pakistan
The World Bank has approved a package of measures worth $450 million aimed at expanding banking services and financial access in Pakistan. The ‘Finance for Growth Development Policy’ (FGDP) is a policy credit of $300 million to support the government’s efforts in promoting a more inclusive and transparent financial sector, the World Bank country office in Islamabad announced on Thursday.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Crowdfunding the solution for SMEs in South Africa?
In 2015, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) published the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Insights Report. The report provided meaningful insight into the depressed economic environment stifling SME growth and explored ways to improve opportunities for SMEs in South Africa.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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India’s largest mobile wallet goes global, launches app in Canada
India's largest mobile wallet, Paytm, has launched in Canada. Users can now pay their cell phone, cable, internet, water and electricity bills as well as their insurance and property taxes via the Paytm Canada app.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North America
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South Africa’s Energy Schizophrenia: Why Hasn’t the Country Achieved Affordable Power for the Poor?
There are vast extremes between the energy rich and poor in South Africa, despite the country's great potential to make energy universally available. A new report by Impact Amplifier examines the reasons behind the discrepancies and describes five energy access business models for low-income communities: biogas, solar home systems, mini/micro grids, solar kiosks and solar appliances.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
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Impact Assessment Reveals Visa’s Public-Private Partnership Boosts Financial Inclusion in Rwanda
The assessment concluded that this public-private partnership demonstrated a new model for doing business in emerging markets, which laid the groundwork for enhanced financial inclusion in the country.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Distributed Economy: Four Ways Blockchain Can Transform MSMEs in Emerging Markets
Micro, small and medium enterprises are the largest employers in many developing countries, but their growth is limited by a lack of access to savings, insurance, credit equity and payments services. Traditional companies aren't stepping up to solve the problem, but blockchain can help. Here are four ways this new type of data application can further MSME growth.
- Categories
- Technology
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KickStart and VisionFund to Bring Affordable Irrigation to African Farmers
Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are set to benefit from a new partnership between World Vision’s microfinance arm, VisionFund International (VisionFund) and non-profit social enterprise, KickStart International (KickStart). The partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide an integrated solution to enable farmers to access, purchase and implement irrigation systems. With ambitious targets, the partnership anticipates 100,000 farmers (and 400,000 children) will benefit from greater access to water for their crops over the next five years.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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