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How Water.org ‘Took a Leap of Faith’ into Social Impact Investing
As we recognize World Water Day, Water.org is launching a $50 million fund, targeting enterprises in India, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines that help the poor meet their water and sanitation needs – with a particular focus on MFIs. This seven-year fund, managed by the nonprofit's WaterEquity initiative, aims to reach at least 4.6 million people at the BoP, while offering pre-tax financial returns of 3 percent.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
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Will Move to Cap Microfinance Interest Rates Backfire in Cambodia?
Some analysts say the move is unlikely to help reduce poverty, and could throw the country’s microfinance system into disarray.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- microfinance, regulations
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Social Business Roundup: SOCAP Aims for the Mainstream, Cambodia Caps Microcredit, Quali Health Simplifies Health Care
In announcing its new ownership, SOCAP mentioned the word “mainstream” six times – the popular social business and investing conference is clearly aiming to grow beyond its current niche. In Cambodia, the National Bank capped interest on microcredit to a maximum of 18 percent per year – about half of what some MFIs currently charge. And a visit to India inspired a South African doctor to launch a profitable health care clinic in a local shantytown. These stories and more in our weekly roundup.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care, Investing
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KickStart and VisionFund to Bring Affordable Irrigation to African Farmers
Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are set to benefit from a new partnership between World Vision’s microfinance arm, VisionFund International (VisionFund) and non-profit social enterprise, KickStart International (KickStart). The partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide an integrated solution to enable farmers to access, purchase and implement irrigation systems. With ambitious targets, the partnership anticipates 100,000 farmers (and 400,000 children) will benefit from greater access to water for their crops over the next five years.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How Loan Guarantees Are Unlocking Private Capital for Clean Energy and Sustainable Agriculture
MCE Social Capital, a nonprofit impact investing firm, believes leveraging loan guarantees can unlock private sector capital for the more than 2 billion people who lack access to formal financial services. Over the past couple of years, MCE has expanded its focus to clean energy and sustainable agriculture in an effort to promote macroeconomic stability and a healthy planet.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Investing
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Cambodia caps interest on microfinance loans
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has capped interest on microfinance loans to a maximum of 18 percent per year, an unprecedented move that came on the direct orders of Prime Minister Hun Sen, Defence Minister Tea Banh said yesterday – a decision some experts suggested had political overtones and could have unintended negative consequences for the poor.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Easypaisa to part ways with Telenor Pakistan
Telenor Pakistan launched Easypaisa in 2009 with the approval of the State Bank of Pakistan. ProPakistani reported that Easypaisa, which is Telenor Pakistan’s Mobile Financial Services Division, will be transferred to Tameer Microfinance Bank. Telenor Group wholly acquired Tameer Bank last year. At that time, it was announced that Telenor Pakistan will transfer the management of Easypaisa to Tameer.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Small finance bank licensee Disha’s parent raises Rs500 crore
Fincare Business Services Ltd (Fincare), a financial inclusion platform, on Tuesday announced that it has closed a Rs500 crore transaction with investments from private equity investors TA Associates, True North, Tata Opportunities Fund and LeapFrog Investments.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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