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Financing Women- Owned or -Led SMEs for Sustainable Growth: Navigating Capital Supply Side Challenges in Africa
One in four African women owns or manages a business, and in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the rates of entrepreneurial activity among women rise to 30-50%. But as Nathalie Gogue-Ebo and Katharina Weber at Open Capital point out, just 6% of funding in the region goes to women- owned or -led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs), limiting these businesses' growth potential. They discuss the factors that are preventing investors from supporting WSMEs, and share some potential solutions.
- Categories
- Investing
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Press Release: IFC and DFC Invest in Pomona Impact Fund II to Foster Growth of SMEs, Strengthen Private Equity Markets in Central America
IFC and DFC's backing, with $7.5 million in equity investment from each institution, will enhance Pomona's support for SMEs.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Investing, WASH
- Region
- Latin America
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Bluepeak Private Capital Closes $156 Million Fund to Support African Businesses
BluePeak Private Capital, a private capital firm, has closed its flagship fund at $156 million to support scalable businesses in Africa.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenyan Businesses Are Dropping the World’s Favorite Mobile Money Service
The shift by businesses away from M-Pesa payments is a remarkable turn in a country known for pioneering mobile money, and where the service is ubiquitous.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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World Bank’s IFC Backs Indian Insurtech Startup Onsurity in $24 Million Funding
Onsurity aims to fill the gap with its suite of offerings designed specifically for MSMEs enterprises and emerging businesses.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Climate Finance Startup Pyrpose Opens Public Beta Enabling Consumers to Directly Support Climate Innovators
The Pyrpose platform allows consumers to understand their own carbon footprint and enables them to take action to tackle climate change.
- Categories
- Environment, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Arnur Credit Bags $9 Million from IFC to Aid Women-Led MSMEs in Kazakhstan
The project is aligned with IFC’s strategy in Kazakhstan to boost private sector-led growth through support to the financial sector and investments.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Press Release: International Fund for Agricultural Development and Malawi to Build Resilience and Productivity of Small-Scale Farmers and MSMEs amid Ongoing Crisis
Agriculture is the country’s main economic activity, accounting for 30 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 80 per cent of its export earnings.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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