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Small Farmers Meet Big Data: How the data revolution could transform smallholder finance
The enormous gap between the supply and demand of formal credit for smallholder farmers has been well documented. Among the varied causes of this mismatch is the extreme lack of information on potential borrowers that’s available to lenders. Two recent data-focused innovations, however, could dramatically reduce these information challenges and the associated lending risks, which could help open up pools of capital for previously underserved populations.
- Categories
- Agriculture
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From Planning to Execution: Using Value Chain Approach to Lending to Smallholder Farmers and Agribusiness
Lack of financial data about agribusinesses and smallholder farmers makes it even more difficult to adopt conventional methods of credit assessment. Most plain vanilla financial products are ill-suited to the cash flow requirements of an agribusiness, which is often cyclical in nature. But where most financial institutions see a challenge, we at Samunnati saw an opportunity in lending to smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.
- Categories
- Agriculture
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IFC Boosts Financial Access for SMEs in Colombia With New Loan to Banco Pichincha
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, strengthened its support to Colombia’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with a new US$80 million loan to Banco Pichincha, a bank that strives to sharply boost its lending to Colombian SMEs and low-income students.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
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Gross Loan Portfolio Increases 39.3% in Pakistan’s Microfinance Sector
The gross loan portfolio of the microfinance sector increased 39.3% year on year (YoY) to reach Rs93 billion at the end of 2015.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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Viewpoint: Regulators Should Leave China’s P2P Sector Alone
I got into a shouting match with my 83-year-old father-in-law the other day in Shanghai. He had invested 300,000 yuan ($45,940) in Zhongda, an obscure peer-to-peer lending company based in Zhejiang Province. So far he has not suffered a loss from his adventure but he has refused to pull his money out despite my insistence that he do so.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending
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About 70% of Ghana’s ‘Susu’ Collectors Are Operating Illegally
Out of an estimated 1,500 Susu collectors operating in the country, with a client base of over 2 million, only 472 of them (representing 31 percent) are formally licenced under the self-regulation scheme, making t activities of the rest illegal.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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Commercial Bank of Africa to Offer Direct Mobile Lending in Uganda
Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) is introducing a Mobile Micro Savings and Loans product in Uganda allowing customers to borrow money via their phones.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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Southwest Solutions, JPMorgan Chase and Mission Asset Fund Launch Peer Lending Circles to Boost Credit Scores of Detroit Residents
Southwest Solutions, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mission Asset Fund (MAF) today announced the launch of Lending Circles, a new social loan program that will allow Detroit residents to safely build credit through zero-interest loans. Participants make monthly loan payments and take turns receiving zero-interest social loans, ranging from $300 to $2,500. All loan payments are reported to credit bureaus, enabling participants to build a credit history, raise credit scores and work towards greater financial stability.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- lending
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