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Regulatory Roadblocks are Holding Blended Finance Back: Here are Three Concrete Ways to Address Them
After hitting a 10-year low in 2022, blended finance flows bounced back to a five-year high of $15 billion in 2023. But despite this renewed momentum, Andrew Apampa at Convergence points out that blended finance faces a number of challenges that hinder its ability to scale — including the complex web of policies and regulations that deter highly regulated financial institutions from investing in emerging markets. He discusses these obstacles and presents some promising solutions, as outlined in Convergence’s State of Blended Finance 2024 report.
- Categories
- Investing
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Nigeria Fines Meta $220 Million for Violating Data Protection and Consumer Rights Laws
Nigeria's government has fined Meta $220 million after its investigations found “multiple and repeated” violations of the country’s data protection and consumer rights laws on Facebook and WhatsApp.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How a Sugar Industry Stamp of Approval Hid Coerced Hysterectomies
Much of what consumers buy is marked “sustainable,” “humane” or “green.” In the sugar cane fields of India, that papered over the worst abuses.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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“Farming Is Not a Crime”: Kenya’s Smallholder Farmers Are Challenging a Law Preventing Them From Sharing Indigenous Seeds
Smallholder farmers in Kenya acquire seeds through farmer-managed systems that encourage informal seed saving and sharing, a practice that a 2012 Seeds and Plant Varieties Act opposes.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Design as a Catalyst for Impact: How a First-of-its-Kind Design Policy in Kerala Could Foster a New Approach to Public-Private Partnerships in India
The Indian state of Kerala recently approved a State Design Policy — the first of its kind in the country. As Manoshij Banerjee and Mohammed Shahid Abdulla explain, design policies aim to increase citizens' quality of life by providing guidance to help optimize the design of everything from infrastructure to government policy. They share examples of strategic design choices that have made a major impact on businesses, governments and the communities they serve, and explore how Kerala’s design policy could lead to new opportunities for public-private partnerships in India.
- Categories
- Technology, Transportation
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Vietnam Mandates Facial Recognition for Digital Payments Above $390
The new policy change received validity from the State Bank of Vietnam at the start of July, with the banking regulator hinting at a strict enforcement of the rules.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Kathmandu Is Making Taxi Drivers Switch to EVs. Not All Drivers Can Afford One
The Xpres-T, made by Indian carmaker Tata, is the only EV approved for use as a taxi in Nepal. It costs $27,000 — several years’ income.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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South African Online Retailer Takealot Warns About E-Commerce Competition from Chinese Clothing Manufacturers Temu and Shein
Despite Takealot being a local business, many South Africans have come out in support of Shein and Temu because of their cheap prices.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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