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Can Mobile Money Boost Financial Inclusion in Southern Africa?
Mobile money offers opportunities for the unbanked to save, spend, and transfer money using just a cell phone. Linda Du ’19, an MBA student at Yale SOM, traveled to Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to talk with providers, customers, and others about the technology’s potential to give the poor access to the financial system.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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A Microfinance Pioneer Branches Out: Early Learnings from FINCA’s Experiences as an Impact Investor
Some three decades after launching its work in microfinance, FINCA International has gotten into impact investing. Hoping to better understand emerging innovations and their impact on its customers and operations, FINCA Ventures has invested in six social enterprises operating in sub-Saharan Africa. Ami Dalal, the initiative's managing director, discusses the lessons it has learned so far, and how these investments improve FINCA's business strategy while furthering its mission.
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The Rural Credit Rush in India
Data released by Microfinance Institutions Network, a national body for non-banking finance company-micro finance institutions (NBFC-MFIs), shows that NBFC-MFIs, which focus on lending in rural India, account for the largest chunk of the loan portfolio of the microfinance industry.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Microcredit was a hugely hyped solution to global poverty. What happened?
Studies have shown it hasn’t really lifted people out of poverty. But it’s still made a difference in the lives of the poor.
- Categories
- Finance
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Mobile lenders drive microfinance entities to early grave
The zenith of microfinance lending in Kenya, as perfected by institutions such as Kenya Women Microfinance Bank saw many poor borrowers saddled with untenable debts.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press release: IDB Invest provides loan to Mundo Mujer, the largest private microfinance bank in Colombia
The financing allows Banco Mundo Mujer to increase its loan portfolio to support communities with easy and quick access to working capital, strengthening its businesses and productive units.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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The Latest in Impact Investing in Latin America: Recent Data Shows Dynamic Growth – And New Challenges
Latin America has been making global headlines of late, though often for negative reasons—from the divisive election in Brazil, to the conflict over Central American migrants. But according to Rebeca Rocha at ANDE Brazil, there’s a more encouraging development that’s been building up under the radar: the growth of impact investing in the region. ANDE recently launched the second edition of its biannual survey of impact investing in Latin America, and Rocha shares some findings that highlight both the sector’s momentum, and its emerging challenges.
- Categories
- Investing
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Telenor Microfinance partners with Alipay for Pakistan blockchain remittances
The service is provided by Telenor’s mobile banking service Easypaisa in Pakistan and another subsidiary Valyou in Malaysia. The aim is to make payments real-time, 24/7 and more efficient.
- Categories
- Finance, Telecommunications
- Region
- South Asia
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