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IBM to Tackle Ocean Plastic and Global Poverty with Blockchain Technology
IBM aired a TV Commercial during an NFL match on September 17, 2018, called Plastic Bank, a new initiative which aims to tackle ocean plastic and global poverty with blockchain technology. The Plastic Bank is backed by IBM Technology which uses the LinuxOne blockchain to encourage entrepreneurs from the world’s most impoverished communities to clean up plastic in exchange for digital credits.
- Categories
- Environment, Technology
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New Yunus Social Business Centre to be established in Malaysia
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sunway Education Group (SEG) founder Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah endorsing the establishment of the new Yunus Social Business Centre (YSBC) at the Sunway City campus.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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A Generational Challenge: What We’ve Learned About Addressing Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment is a pressing issue in developed countries, but in emerging economies, the situation is even more dire. Unemployment rates of 20 percent or higher are common, with some countries reaching as high as 50 percent. Effective solutions will require an urgent, concentrated and collaborative effort, say Emily Coppel of BRAC USA and Patricia Langan of Save the Children. They outline three key lessons for addressing this challenge, previewing a Sept. 24 forum where some of the top development organizations, research institutes and donors will discuss a path forward.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Viewpoint: Is Cash Better for Poor People Than Conventional Foreign Aid?
U.S.A.I.D., the American foreign aid agency, is conducting a trial that measures the impact when poor people abroad are simply given money with which to decide what’s best for themselves.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press release: FINCA Impact Finance and KfW Announce USD 8.5 Million Subordinated Loan Facility for Democratic Republic of Congo
FINCA Impact Finance is furthering its strategy of diversifying its sources of funding to pursue digital transformation and promote financial inclusion through mobilizing deposits and local currency debt funding. In the past year, it has attracted worldwide attention and interest from the investment community after issuing bond offerings in its subsidiaries in Pakistan, Nicaragua and Armenia, allowing greater flexibility to manage foreign exchange and geographic risks.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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What’s the Best Way to Teach Entrepreneurship? Assessing the Impact of Different Business Training Approaches
With countless low-income people running small-scale enterprises, many see entrepreneurship as a viable pathway out of poverty. But what are the most effective methods for teaching business skills to these entrepreneurs? MIT D-Lab's Libby McDonald disseminates research from D-Lab's Practical Impact Alliance working group, highlighting key approaches for transferring entrepreneurial knowledge to BoP business owners, and discussing skillsets that can serve as the primary building blocks for a business-training curriculum.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
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Press release: Goodwell launches EUR 20 million fund
Goodwell Investments has launched a new EUR 20 million fund for investments in the inclusive economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The launch specifically meets the growing demand for impact investments from private investors, family offices and foundations, and plays to the many investor requests Goodwell received following the successful closure of its predecessor fund earlier this year.
- Source
- Press release
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Purdue to be part of a $70 million consortium for global development
United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is giving that $70 million over the next five years, contingent on congressional authorization. The agency aims for the consortium to fund research that can translate promptly and effectively into real-life solutions.
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