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The Dark Side of Financial Inclusion: Financial services companies in South Africa are monetizing financial illiteracy
The recently released findings of the 2013 FinScope survey highlight a significant increase in adoption of formal financial products in South Africa. On the face of it, this is good news - access to these products can help people live more financially secure and sustainable lives. But a closer look at the data reveals a more disturbing picture.
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- Education
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The Double Bottom Line of Microfinance Must Become a Triplet: Why MFI performance measurement needs a gender lens
According to the Microfinance Information Exchange, 74 percent of MFIs claim to target women, and just over half declare women’s empowerment or gender equality as an objective. Yet gender has not been recognized as one of the pillars of MFI performance. Women’s World Banking makes the case that all MFI performance measurement must have a gender lens.
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- Education, Impact Assessment
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Engineering Answers on ‘DEMAND’: A new global review of engineering successes in development
At the bottom of many a development money pit is poor design. Fortunately, engineers can help prevent funding sinkholes from opening in the first place. With that in mind, we’re pleased to announce the online debut of a new magazine for engineers and the global development community, DEMAND, ASME’s Global Development Review.
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- Education, Energy, Technology
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- research
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Focusing on the Next Generation: An exploration of enterprise impacts on child poverty
Traditional interventions to reduce poverty during early childhood are not enough. Given the magnitude of the challenge and the limitations of existing approaches, BoP enterprises have the potential to positively affect early childhood development. However, our understanding of the impact BoP ventures actually have on the lives of children remains vague, and ultimately limits their ability to improve the lives of at-risk children.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
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Latin American Nations Increase Usage of Bank Card and Mobile Payment in Online Commerce
Research and Markets' new Latin America Online Payment Methods 2013 - Second Half 2013 report indicates that online payment continues its growth in the emerging markets of this dynamic region.
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- Education
- Region
- Latin America
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Research and Markets: Global Mobile Payment Methods 2013 Research Report
Mobile payment for goods and services continues global growth.
- Categories
- Education
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Unlocking Scale: How seven inclusive businesses are creating their own keys
‘What does it take’ and ‘how long does it take’ for an inclusive business to reach scale? Persistence, adaptation, and many years are the obvious answers, but there is a lot more besides. Some answers to these questions emerge today with the launch of a series of case studies, exploring the journey to scale of seven frontier inclusive businesses supported by the Business Innovation Facility (BIF).
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- Education
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Journeying from First-Gen to Second-Gen BoP Strategy: And singing along to a different tune
Taking stock of the past and charting the way forward was a central theme at the BoP Summit. One key challenge, however, is transforming the way we collectively think about the realities of living in subsistence contexts and “frame the base of the pyramid.” Two compelling points made in the summit’s opening session set the stage for what makes this transformation so hard – but also how to journey forward from here.
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- Education