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OPINION: Modi’s Financial Inclusion Scheme Is Not As Inclusive As You Might Have Thought
The government’s ambitious financial inclusion programme is about to get bigger. Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that the target for new bank accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana had been revised from 7.5 crore to 10 crore by January 26, 2015.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Three Keys to Unlocking Microinsurance’s Potential: The sector is growing – here’s how it can grow faster
Although microinsurance has grown in the shadow of flagship microfinance products like microcredit, it has slowly established itself as a dominant figure in inclusive finance. Yet it is still far from achieving its full potential, with challenges ranging from low coverage rates to lack of customer trust and limited cash-flows. Lisa Chassin of MicroSave outlines key practices that could boost the sector’s growth.
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PRESS RELEASE: African Policymakers Pledge to Financially Include Kids
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – On 4-5 December 2014 the Third Child and Youth Finance Regional Meeting for Africa will be held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Meeting will bring together Africa’s finest policy makers, educators, research and academic institutions, financial service providers, as well as representatives from various government ministries to develop a common African position on the advancement of a unified financial education and inclusion plan of action for children and youth across the continent.
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- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ghana Teams Up With Better Than Cash Alliance In Move Towards Cashless Economy
The Government of Ghana today took steps towards enhancing fiscal transparency and promoting the financial inclusion of its citizens by committing to a United Nations-backed initiative that supports countries’ transitions to electronic payments.
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- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Five Digital Payment Innovations with the Potential to Transform Development: Visa and NetHope grant recipients illustrate the power of digital payments
Development organizations have begun to embrace digital payments in areas that range from health and education, to food security and poverty alleviation. Visa is working with NetHope to help expand the impact of organizations working in these areas, by supporting programs that utilize electronic transfers and/or payments. These five grant recipients show how digital payments can enhance development and relief efforts.
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- Agriculture, Health Care
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Reserve Bank of India Prohibits Airtel, Vodafone & Idea From Using Existing Channels for Payments Banks Business
The Reserve Bank of India's final rules on payments banks prohibit telecom operators from leveraging their nationwide retailer networks and channels if they enter the new business, but analysts say this is a good opportunity for mobile phone companies to add another revenue stream given their existing consumer connect.
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- South Asia
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Global Health Looks To BRAC and Gates Foundation for Mobile Money
Bangladesh is going digital. Not in smart watches, sensor-based clothing or electronic health records, but in money. Mobile money. Money, that according to BRAC and the Gates Foundation could improve the economic and health outcomes of the country, especially of women and children. With a healthy appreciation of the complexities in scaling digitally, faith in innovation at the grassroots level and years of planning, these organizations just might make mobile money the future of finance.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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It’s About Launching Ecosystems, Not Just Products: Insights on the next generation of mobile financial services from the Mondato Summit Asia
As the explosive growth of mobile financial services (MFS) reshapes economies around the world, the Mondato Summit Asia brought an impressive line-up of speakers and panelists from all parts of the ecosystem to explore the next generation of MFS in Southeast Asia. Chris Connolly delivers some highlights - and tweets - from the recent conference.
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