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An Unlevel Playing Field: Why Small Businesses Face Disadvantages in Digital Commerce – and How Inclusive Tech Innovations Could Help
One reason COVID-19 has been so damaging to global micro and small enterprises (MSEs) is that consumers have shifted towards purchasing online – a change that has mainly benefited large corporations. According to Malika Anand at BFA's Catalyst Fund, making digital commerce more inclusive could help these businesses survive and grow in the long term. She shares research from Ghana that highlights several promising opportunities for digital commerce innovations that can benefit informal MSEs.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology, Transportation
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South Africa’s Planet42 Raises $10 Million in Debt Round to Scale Internationally
The South Africa-based Planet42, a car subscription company that helps individuals ignored by banks to get access to a personal vehicle, has announced a US$10 million debt funding round to help it scale its operations and move into new markets.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Sokowatch Launches East Africa’s First Commercial Electric Tuk-Tuks
E-commerce platform leads EV revolution to combat emissions and noise pollution in Kampala.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Press Release: First-Ever Peace REC (P-REC) Transaction Drives Renewable Energy Development in Africa
The first-ever Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) transaction has been executed by Microsoft with Energy Peace Partners (EPP) and project developer Nuru. In the agreement, Microsoft is purchasing P-RECs issued by EPP from a new solar project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which will directly finance the installation of streetlights in a recently electrified neighborhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The streetlights are connected to the same solar-plus-storage system which generates the electricity associated with the P-RECs. The transaction was facilitated by renewable energy, transportation decarbonization, and climate solutions specialist 3Degrees.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Six Key Trends Driving Affordable, Low-Carbon Growth in the Rural E-Mobility Sector
In the last five years, a vast array of e-mobility startups have sprung up across sub-Saharan Africa, focused largely on electric bikes, scooters and three-wheelers. As Richa Goyal at Energy Saving Trust points out, these businesses are accelerating Africa's shift toward low-carbon transportation, while also boosting local manufacturing, skill development and job creation. She outlines six key trends and business model features in this emerging sector.
- Categories
- Energy, Transportation
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Reversal of Fortune: Five Ways Biden’s Win Will Boost Impact Investing in Emerging Markets
In the aftermath of the U.S. election, there's been considerable discussion of how Biden’s victory will impact different industries. According to Josh Knauer at JumpScale, one particular sector that will benefit is impact investing. He explains how the work of impact investors had become more difficult during the Trump years, and why there's reason to believe that the incoming administration will give the sector’s efforts in emerging markets a significant boost.
- Categories
- Energy, Finance, Investing, Technology, Transportation
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Technology Innovations Look To Change the Cacao Landscape in Colombia
As Colombia searches for a way forward after a half-century of war, the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) could have a significant role to play. Called the food of the gods, this squat tropical hardwood holds exceptional social and environmental promise in the intractable expanses of the country.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment
- Region
- Latin America
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Analysis: Mass Transit and COVID-19: On Track for Recovery?
Many of the emerging world’s mass transit systems have seen demand nosedive as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Lockdowns, social distancing and remote working – as well as fears around an increased risk of infection in enclosed spaces – have led to dramatic reductions in passenger numbers, but also innovative ideas for enhancing safety measures and generating new revenue streams.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Tags
- transportation