-
Silicon Valley-Backed App Lenders Use Phone Data to Hassle Borrowers
Silicon Valley venture capital is funding a wave of fintech startups in India that use data from borrowers’ cellphones to collect on debts in ways that are illegal in both India and the U.S.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
-
Three Key Sessions from Three Days of Discussion at European Microfinance Week
European Microfinance Week is always a whirlwind of activity and insights, and this year was no exception. As a media partner at the event, NextBillion covered some of the key sessions. Here we highlight three of them, one from each day of the event – starting with Friday's must-see plenary, which was streamed live and can now be viewed in a video embedded in this article.
- Categories
- Finance, NextBillion Originals
-
He Grew Up on a Farm. Now, He Helps Protect Them.
Thomas Njeru is a co-founder of a microinsurance firm based in Kenya that covers small farms across Africa and provides protection for low-income individuals who do not have access to conventional coverage.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Press Release: Kiva Deploys $1 Billion in Loans to Female Entrepreneurs Around the World
“The strength of these women who’ve put Kiva loans to work to benefit themselves and their communities is the reason that we exist today,” said Goldie Chow, Director of Impact at Kiva. “We will continue to empower female entrepreneurship, and do all that we can to generate greater financial inclusion for the next generation of female entrepreneurs worldwide.”
- Source
- Press Release
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance
-
Digital Lending Apps Are Coming Under Scrutiny in East Africa for Predatory Practices
The latest challenge comes from Google, which has updated its app store developer policies to curb predatory lending practices.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
NGOs Ordered to Retract Report Critical of Microfinance in Cambodia
Government officials and MFIs were quick to dismiss the report, noting that interviews were only conducted in 10 communes in the provinces of Kandal, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Prey Veng and the city of Phnom Penh.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
NGOs to be Grilled Over MFI Report in Cambodia
The National Bank of Cambodia and government yesterday cast doubt on a recent NGO report on microloans, demanding that those behind the critical claims provide evidence to support them in a closed-door meeting.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
Microlending Goes Digital, Piling Debt on Millions
In Kenya, Africa’s financial-technology pioneer, there are now more people keeping money on their phones than in banks. Almost one-fifth of mobile-banking borrowers there defaulted last year – like Barasa, who has failed to pay three separate loans.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
Parent Organization
