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Supporting Smallholder Farmers against Big Agriculture
Since most Ugandans live in rural areas, raising agriculture incomes is critical to reducing poverty, boosting prosperity and creating jobs, especially for women and youth.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Our Obsession with ‘Systems Change’ Leaves Marginalized Women Vulnerable – Let’s Empower Them to Advocate for Themselves
Last December, while driving through rural Uganda, KadAfrica founder Rebecca Kaduru was gravely injured in a car accident. Taken to the district hospital, she faced a stark reality: There was no doctor, no medications, not even gauze and sutures. The experience highlighted the barriers to women's empowerment in the country, where hospitals like this are often the best option for maternal health emergencies, and care is only available to those who fight for it. Kaduru explores why gender equality requires less focus on changing systems, and more on helping women advocate for themselves.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise
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How Technology Could Help Rural South Africa Turn Sunshine Into Income
If South Africa positions itself well, it could become a test bed for these technologies and thereby benefit from investments in research and development by major international corporations that have an interest in driving these trial runs.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Man With a Tablet for Making Aid to African Countries Better
Struck by failings in the implementation of health projects, a Mozambican entrepreneur has turned to tech for a solution.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Viewpoint: Reforming Microfinance to Alleviate Poverty, Foster National Development
About 90 per cent of Nigeria’s businesses are considered microenterprises. Despite this huge number, easy access to funds has remained a challenge for most Small and Medium Enterprises, in spite of several government funding initiatives.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Are Rural Customers Ready to Consume More Energy at the Right Price? New Mini-Grid Research Offers Intriguing Results
Setting appropriate pricing is crucial to any business, but it's especially challenging for mini-grid developers serving rural customers in emerging countries. If the price is too high, customers can’t afford to buy enough power. If it's too low, mini-grids risk their commercial viability. Authors at CrossBoundary discuss a new report exploring the impact of massive price reductions on energy consumption and mini-grid revenues. The results are striking, and potentially significant for both providers and their customers.
- Categories
- Energy
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Press Release: Kuaishou Technology, Following $2.8 Billion USD Generated for Rural Entrepreneurs, Launches ‘Social Impact Institute’
Following the success of Kuaishou Technology's pilot programs to alleviate poverty, the 'Social Impact Institute' furthers research that will support the development of sustainable businesses for entrepreneurs hailing from low-income households
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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OPIC commits $8 million to support small farmer microlending in Myanmar
Proximity Finance, which designs its loans to meet the particular needs of smallholder farmers, is the microfinance arm of Proximity Designs, a social enterprise dedicated to serving Myanmar’s rural families.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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