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Mobile cash delights tithe-eager pastors in Zimbabwe
PENTECOSTAL churches in Zimbabwe have moved to take advantage of mobile phone penetration rates now said to be about 103.5 percent and the introduction of mobile money platforms to ease their tithe worries.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kiva Responds: The famed microlender replies to Hugh Sinclair’s scathing critique
On Monday, NextBillion Financial Innovation published a post by Hugh Sinclair, a prominent critic of microcredit, in which he leveled some sharp criticisms of Kiva, its microlending model and business practices. Today, Kiva’s co-founder/CEO and president give their side of the story.
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Why This Social Entrepreneur Is Paying African Women To Go To Free HIV Clinics
Nigerian women get a small payment everytime they’ve received a treatment in a clinic, proved by their geotagged doctors’ notes.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- microfinance
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Reserve Bank of India Eases Lending Norms for Microfinance Institutions
Move gives more leeway to medium-sized micro lenders to price their loans based on their cost borrowings
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- governance, microfinance
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Somaliland: Silatech and Kaaba Microfinance Partner to Support Youth Enterprise
Silatech has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kaaba Microfinance Institution (K-MFI), based in Somaliland, to promote youth enterprise and employment solutions. The agreement paves the way for the two organizations to jointly develop a Youth Enterprise Fund, which will provide dedicated funds and technical assistance to microfinance institutions throughout Somaliland.
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Don’t charge to enlarge: the effect of interest rate changes on microfinance access
A STORY in the finance section this week looks at what has happened to microfinance interest rates. To summarise briefly: we argue that as microfinance for the very poorest borrowers has expanded, microfinance institutions (MFIs) have had to raise their rates. As MFIs target poorer, less reliable customers, they need to charge higher rates to cover increased defaults and steeper funding costs.
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Microinsurance could soon be sold by local grocery stores, gas stations in India
Micro insurance products could soon be sold by local grocery stores, public call offices (PCOs), fuel outlets and ration shops in rural areas. However, insurance sector officials also believe this would hamper the need-based sale objective.
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- Uncategorized
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Insolvency among microfinance banks could hamper Nigeria’s financial inclusion strategy
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) financial inclusion strategy targets a reduction of adult population financially excluded from 46 percent to 20 percent by the year 2020. This objective cannot be achieved completely without active involvement of microfinance banks (MFBs) operating in the country.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa