-
Follow the Money: The IT Hurdles of Microlending
When the crowdfunding non-profit Kiva.org launched a pilot in 2014 to streamline their transactions in Kenya, they met local shop owners like Esther, who was running a stall called “Facebook Cereals.” Kenya had suffered political unrest in recent years, and Esther had to restart her business in the Toi Market of Nairobi twice. But she kept her smile.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Weekly Roundup: $5 Beats Free, SunFunder Rises, and Asia’s Investors Love Impact
Why it's not crazy for a global health organization to refuse free vaccines, where the world's most socially conscious investors live, which major funder might be planning to alter some old investment restrictions, and what's needed to support the Sustainable Development Goals. That and more; it's all here in our Weekly Roundup.
- Categories
- Health Care
-
Report: $90 Trillion Infrastructure Investment Could Combat Climate Change
The world will need to more than double its current infrastructure stock over the next 15 years – a massive undertaking which could either contribute to or combat catastrophic climate change – according to a new report.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Health Financing Through PPP Gets Nod of Experts
With Africa needing over US$30 billion to close the infrastructure deficit and in the light of dwindling Government expenditure on Healthcare, experts say it has become imperative that the private sector gets involved in closing these gaps.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- infrastructure, lending
-
Uber Kenya and Sidian Bank Launch $100M Vehicle Solutions Programme
Uber and Sidian Bank announced today that they have partnered to launch an innovative Uber Vehicle Solutions Programme that will give driver-partners and business investors convenient and affordable access to the quality vehicles they need to start or grow their Uber-based businesses. This comes shortly after Uber celebrated 1 million rides taken in Kenya since its launch just 15 months ago.
- Categories
- Investing, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Philippines’ Tax Bureau Taps Mobile Payment for Tax Collection
The Philippines' Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has partnered with Globe Telecom's GCash mobile money service for its tax collection effort.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech, infrastructure
-
Did This New Nonprofit Crack the Code for Building Developing World Housing?
Last June, a brand-new nonprofit set a giant goal: Over the summer, they would crowdfund enough money to build an entire neighborhood—100 homes—for earthquake victims in Haiti. They raised the money in 90 days, and by this March ended up building 151 homes, where more than 1,200 people now live.
- Categories
- Finance
-
Catalytic Finance Initiative Brings Together Banks and Investors, Directs $8 Billion in Capital for High-Impact Sustainable Projects
A consortium of leading financial institutions and investors today announced a new partnership under the Catalytic Finance Initiative (CFI) to direct $8 billion in total commitments toward high-impact sustainable investments. Partners joining the CFI include AllianceBernstein (AB); Babson Capital Management LLC, a subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual); Crédit Agricole CIB; European Investment Bank (EIB); HSBC Group; International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group; and Mirova, a subsidiary of Natixis Group, all of which have pledged capital and expertise to develop and advance innovative financing structures for investments in clean energy and other sustainability focused projects. In addition, the Aligned Intermediary, representing a group of long-term institutional investors, will collaborate on specific investment opportunities with members of the partnership. This announcement follows last year’s ratification of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the historic climate agreement in Paris. It aims to promote the SDG objectives, including acting on climate change and advancing access to clean energy and water.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.