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Analysis: Agriculture and Food Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean Poised for Transformational Changes
As agriculture and food systems across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) try to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, policy makers must act to unleash the sector's vast potential to drive sustainable and inclusive growth for decades to come, according to a new World Bank report.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Latin America
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Analysis: Sustainable Finance Addresses Social Justice as COVID-19 Raises the Stakes
Early in the pandemic, the coronavirus was seen as the "great leveler," hitting rich and poor alike. Instead, it's become apparent that COVID-19 is the "great divider," aggravating the many structural inequities between richer and poorer nations and people--leading to demands for social justice.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
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How Governments Can Reach People in Extreme Poverty and Build Resilient Livelihoods During COVID-19
Governments around the world have taken fiscal measures that total almost $12 trillion in response to COVID-19. But Lindsay Coates at BRAC argues that most of these programs are short-term and reactive, and many do not reach those most in need of support. She proposes a more comprehensive response – and discusses how the Graduation approach to poverty alleviation can play a role.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Investing
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MFIs in India: Need Social Impact Monitoring
The pandemic has necessitated the need to re-look at the tenets of MFI lending
- Categories
- Education, Finance, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Addressing the Weak Link in COVID-19 Relief: How Improving Strategic Communications Can Boost the Impact of Social Protection Programs
In response to COVID-19, 212 countries have planned or implemented more than 1,100 social protection programs to help over 1.8 billion people. But as Arshi Aadil and Abhishek Jain at MicroSave (MSC) point out, many intended recipients don’t know about the benefits they're eligible for, or how to access these funds. They explore how governments and program administrators can improve their communication and outreach.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Impact Assessment
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When the Economics Don’t Work: Realigning Capital Markets with Development Impact
Agricultural SMEs in Africa face a daunting finance gap, and as Brian Milder, founder and CEO at Aceli Africa points out, current lending approaches aren't enough to fill it. He explores Aceli's solution: taking blended finance a step further by creating a mechanism to align impact with financial sustainability for capital providers across the entire marketplace.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance, Investing
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Making Smartphones Relevant for the World’s Poorest Farmers: An Interview With AgUnity CEO David Davies
Extreme poverty is increasing in countries around the world, particularly in last-mile communities where most people work in agriculture. In this Q&A, AgUnity CEO David Davies discusses his company's efforts to leverage low-cost smartphones and other technologies to provide smallholder farmers with practical tools to connect with each other and work their way out of poverty.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Coronavirus, Finance, Technology, Telecommunications
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Analysis: Emerging Technologies Can Change the African Financial Landscape
The ease and convenience of services backed with the emerging techs can dramatically improve the financial landscape in Africa.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa