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Press release: Mastercard and Unilever Break Down Barriers to Growth for Micro Entrepreneurs with First-of-its-Kind Digital Lending Platform
“Financial inclusion is a key enabler of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – lifting individuals out of poverty and supporting overall economic growth. By broadening our collaboration with Mastercard, working across sectors and including additional private and public partners, we are further expanding the positive impact of financial and economic inclusion” said Paul Polman, chief executive, Unilever.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Caveat Venditor: A New Model for Buyer Selection in Responsible Microfinance Equity Exits
Socially responsible investing is well understood, but what it means to be responsible as you "exit" or sell off equity is less clear. Daniel Rozas and Sam Mendelson studied a particularly difficult part of the exit process for microfinance investments - how to choose a buyer that is suitable for an MFI, its staff and its clients. They discuss their findings in a paper that they hope will help microfinance investors navigate the complicated terrain of "responsible exits."
- Categories
- Investing
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Bringing Technology to Microfinance in the Age of Data Scandals: European Microfinance Award Seeks Solutions
Fintech advances are often heralded for bringing financially excluded people into the mainstream. But Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent appearance before Congress is a stark reminder of the need for protection from – along with access to – technology. This year's European Microfinance Award is seeking organizations whose tech-enabled financial solutions place client protection at the forefront.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance, Technology
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Bandhan-Konnagar expected to get Rs900 crore from World Bank, 3 states
The World Bank, governments of Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand to fund Bandhan-Konnagar’s programme for poverty alleviation to benefit at least 300,000 families.
- Region
- South Asia
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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, Entrepreneurship
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The Demonetization Crisis May Be Over, but the Time for Tech Upgrades in Indian Microfinance Is Now
India's 2016 banknote demonetization sent shockwaves through the country's microfinance sector, causing MFIs to write off US$ 1.1 billion in bad loans. In response, cash-dependent MFIs stepped up investment in fintech – but now that the crisis has passed, so perhaps has their sense of urgency. Elliot Rosenberg of Awaaz.De argues that the need to embrace tech is as strong as ever.
- Categories
- Finance, Investing, Technology
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WASH Away Inequity: Lack of Access to Safe Water is the Most Crippling Obstacle Limiting Human Potential
On World Water Day, consider that 844 million people (nearly 1 in 9) lack a drinking water source that is accessible within a 30-minute round trip from their home. But though this problem can be solved by installing a tap or rain harvesting system, the upfront cost of up to $200 is often prohibitive for people living in poverty. Water.org co-founder and CEO Gary White highlights the power of the poor, when given affordable financing, to provide their own solution to the global water crisis.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing, WASH
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Report: India’s government is yet to achieve its financial inclusion goal
“If we don’t catch up in accordance with the requirements of the society, a day won’t be very far off when we are faced with serious challenges of a large section of senior citizens who are completely devoid of any form of dependency itself,” Jaitley added at the release of the latest edition of Crisil inclusix report.
- Region
- South Asia
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