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Africa’s Fintech Gold Rush: Why Banks Must Adapt to Survive
These are exciting times in the fintech startup ecosystem in Africa, as direct investment activity is growing at a dizzying pace. But according to Osahon Akpata at Ecobank Group, this influx of capital is also raising challenges for startups and investors – and particularly for traditional banks, which have to adjust to the emergence of these innovative and well-funded new competitors. He discusses the implications of Africa's ongoing fintech revolution for both startups and banks, and explores why partnerships between them can provide a way forward.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Scaling Biodigesters: How Appropriate Financing Can Help This Undervalued Technology Deliver Social and Environmental Impact
Biodigesters break down organic material to produce biogas for cooking and heating, along with fertilizer. But though these applications are extremely useful for farming households, uptake remains limited: In Africa alone, the technology could be adopted by almost 33 million households, but market penetration is less than 1% of that. Tanya Kothari of the Catalysing Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems program shares a recent study from the Shell Foundation exploring the impact biodigesters can make, while identifying the kinds of financing that could support growth in the market.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
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ACME Solar Attracts Equity Investment in New India Project
One of India’s leading independent power producers in the solar energy sector, ACME Solar, has signed a shareholders’ agreement to develop a 250-megawatt solar power project located in Rajasthan, India.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Analysis: African Youth Are Capable Entrepreneurs, Invest in Them Now
The Future of Production indicated that the continent will, by 2030, be home to a capable labour force of over 1.6 billion, larger than Asia and South America.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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World Bank Approves $250 Million Financing to Support Development of Agri-Food Sector in Côte D’Ivoire
The World Bank on Tuesday said it had approved $250 million in total financing to support the development of the agri-food sector and the creation of thousands of jobs in rural areas of Cote d’Ivoire.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: Despite Coronavirus, Healthcare Investment Continues to Grow in Africa
Investment in Africa's healthcare sector is crucial as private provision accounts for approximately half of healthcare goods and services delivered. The private sector often fills gaps left by public services, according to research by the IFC.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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upGrad Aquires Impartus
The acquisition will give an exit to Impartus’ existing investor Kaizen, which had invested $4.1 million in the startup in 2015.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Press Release: DFC Advances COVID-19 Response in Africa With $5 Million Investment in Africa Healthcare Network
The direct loan will help Africa Healthcare Network expand dialysis center operations across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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