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Using big data to link poor farmers to finance
The global growth of microfinance banks has created new opportunities for financial inclusion, with outstanding lending of $100 billion to around 200 million clients. Yet the majority of lending from microfinance institutions has been to urban populations and not to the rural poor or small farmers.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance
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Asian Development Bank and Maybank provide USD 20 million in finance to Myanmar microfinance sector
Maybank and ADB will improve access to financial services to even more low-income families and small-business owners.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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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
- 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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Global Findex: Indonesia leads East Asia and the Pacific in financial inclusion progress
Almost fifty percent (48.9%) of the adults in Indonesia now own a bank account, reflecting a true turning point in the country’s journey to boost financial inclusion. This also registers a marked improvement from its 36% of account ownership in 2014 and 20% in 2011.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Block-chain based microfinancing for Kenyan food stall owners
IBM Research and Twiga Food will be extending access to microloans to 220 food stall retailers across Kenya using a block-chain based financing system.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- blockchain, fintech, microfinance
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Report: Central Bank Requirements Could Put at Least 289 Microfinance Companies Out of Business in Ghana
According to the Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN), just about 30 out of the 319 microfinance companies are in good standing.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- microfinance, regulations
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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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