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Education-Focused NBFC Varthana Raises $15 Million From BlueOrchard
The funds, raised under the external commercial borrowings framework, will support Varthana’s lending portfolio.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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ADB Partners With MSEL To Build 20-MW Solar Power Plant In Bangladesh
The funding includes a $15.5 million loan from ADB and an $8.8 million loan from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund 2.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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OPEC Fund Signs $394 Million Sustainability-Linked Loan with ETC Group to Support Smallholder Farmers in Africa
The funds aim to boost ETG’s working capital, enhance food systems, and support the livelihoods of over 600,000 smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenya’s Hustler Fund Is a Flop. Why President Ruto’s Plan to Loan Money to Entrepreneurs Hasn’t Worked
The Kenya government acted as a micro-lender via the Hustler Fund, which was applauded by the financial inclusion lobby as a way to correct failures in the credit market.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Navigating the Financing Paradox for WSMEs: Workable Solutions for Increasing Financial Inclusion Among Women-Owned or -Led Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
In Africa, an estimated $42 billion financing gap exists for small and medium-sized enterprises owned or led by women (WSMEs). According to Nathalie Gogue-Ebo, Crystal Mugimba, Millie Maina and Shiemaa Ahmed at Open Capital, this gap has persisted despite the fact that women own the majority of the continent’s SMEs, and that globally, they default on their loans at a rate 53% lower than men. They explore the main roadblocks facing African WSMEs, and share some solutions that can ensure that these women entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need to thrive.
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Green Jet Fuel Producers Are Crossing a Daunting Climate Tech Barrier
Pat Gruber learned the hard way how difficult it can be to raise money for novel climate tech. When he went to apply for a US federal loan to build a big new SAF factory, he thought the money would be easy to lock in. It wasn’t.
- Categories
- Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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India’s IndusInd Bank Tumbles 15% on Becoming Latest to Warn of Microfinance Loan Stress
While at least eight of the 41 analysts covering the stock cut their price targets, their average still remains the equivalent of "buy", according to LSEG data.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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IHS Towers, Africa’s Largest Telecom Tower Company, Secures $439 Million Loan to Refinance Debt and Support Expansion
By refinancing early, the company may benefit from better terms, potentially lowering interest costs and extending its debt repayment timeline.
- Categories
- Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- employment, lending
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