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Better Data for Better Products: New Online Resource Aims to Close the $200 Billion Smallholder Finance Gap
The US $200 billion gap in farmer finance is a tremendous opportunity – but it's one that financial service providers are missing, due to the lack of transparent and reliable data. That's why One Acre Fund and MIX, with support from the Mastercard Foundation's RAF Learning Lab, launched the Smallholder Finance Product Explorer. A May 8 webinar will show industry actors how to use some of these new online tools to reach the 450 million smallholders in need of financing.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Investing
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Kazakhstan to get huge IFC loan for its microfinance
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a senior syndicated loan of $82 million equivalent in Kazakh tenge to “Microfinance organization “KMF” LLC, a leading Kazakh microfinance institution, to boost lending to micro and small enterprises, including women entrepreneurs and customers in rural areas of Kazakhstan, the press service of IFC said in a message.
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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The ‘Start Small, Stay Small’ Dilemma: How Nonprofit/Private Partnerships Can Boost Women-Owned Businesses
Women-owned businesses tend to start small and stay small, in part due to challenges accessing credit. They're also more likely to be discouraged from applying for financing for fear of being declined. Gina Harman, CEO of Accion's U.S. Network, and Andrea Jung, CEO of Grameen America, explain how their organizations are serving these entrepreneurs – and highlight some important ways this work can be expanded.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
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Spate Of Defaults In Microfinance Securitisation Transactions Raises Concern in India
The similarity of borrowers from microfinance institutions (MFIs), in terms of their vulnerability to socio political events, financial literacy and credit behaviour, renders the microfinance sector susceptible to any kind of adverse idiosyncratic event and more so in case of a system-wide event such as demonetisation.
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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How mobile loan platforms have lured Kenyans into debt trap
Just as a sluggish economy in which exports have underperformed has forced Kenya to arrange for another credit to settle a loan that was maturing, tough economic times such as poor business performance, lay-offs, or delayed salary have seen digital borrowers struggle to repay their loans.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Better Neighborhood, Better Life: What Research Shows About Investments in Equitable Development
Research shows that a child's neighborhood impacts professional outcomes and earnings, and that environment plays a role in exacerbating racial inequality. That's why JPMorgan Chase is working with lenders across the U.S. on a new approach to community development – one focused on neighborhood revitalization. Colleen Briggs discusses Partnerships for Raising Opportunity in Neighborhoods, a $125 million, five-year capital commitment to help communities fuel economic growth.
- Categories
- Finance, Impact Assessment
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U.S. Federal Reserve may review rules on lending to the poor
Changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) may be necessary due to the rise of online lenders, known as “fintech” firms, as well as industry consolidation, that has reshaped the community lending landscape.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- fintech, lending, regulations
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We’re Undervaluing Value Addition: How Ag Processing Will Fortify Food Security, Incomes and Development
The world's cocoa farmers get only 3 percent of the value of a chocolate bar, and Africa, home to 60 percent of the world’s arable land, is a net importer of food that could be processed at lower cost on the continent. The problem is that agriculture producers in emerging markets grow the crops only to watch as others grab the profits. The solution, says Donna Rosa, is to improve the solid food processing industries in developing countries.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Social Enterprise
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