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African Development Bank and AXIAN Launch Digital Finance Programme to Support 34,000 Women-led Businesses in Africa
Supported by the African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), the programme aims to address one of the biggest constraints facing women-owned businesses in Africa – limited access to finance.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Hidden Cost of Digitization for Women Entrepreneurs: Recent Research Reveals Gender Differences in the Impacts of Fraud — And Highlights Some Solutions
Rising rates of financial fraud in emerging economies threaten to undermine the promise of digitization for women entrepreneurs. As Tanvi Jaluka at CARE and Lauren Perlik at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) explain, fraud is among the well-documented barriers women face in accessing digital financial tools and services. But there has been a lack of data on the unique risks women experience once they have already gained this access or adopted these tools. To better understand these impacts, CARE and IPA have combined their data from multiple survey projects to answer a few key questions: Is there a specific story for women around digital risk and fraud? Are they more vulnerable? And what can we do to improve their resilience?
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Analysis: USAID’s Exit Leaves a Gap in the Drive for Meaningful Connectivity
Sonia Jorge, founder and executive director of the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), says meaningful connectivity requires affordable access, adequate network quality, a device capable of using relevant services, regular use and the skills to participate safely and productively online. A basic connection may allow a call or a mobile-money transaction, but it may not be enough for telemedicine, education, public information or an online business.
- Categories
- Technology, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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IFC Supports Expansion of Financing for Kenya’s Small Businesses through the First Catalytic First Loss Guarantee Transactions in Africa
The CFLG is an innovative program delivered under IFC's $4 billion MSME Platform, enabling IFC to provide first-loss coverage to partner financial institutions by leveraging blended finance through the International Development Association's Private Sector Window (IDA PSW).
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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KCB Bank Kenya and European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) Sign US$100 Million Facility to Expand SME Financing
Under the framework, 35 per cent of the facility will be directed towards women and youth-led enterprises, while 30 per cent will finance eligible green investments, enabling businesses to adopt climate-smart technologies and sustainable business practices.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Finance, Investing, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Small Steps Taken Towards Greater Gender Diversity in African Startup Ecosystem in Last 2 Years, Says New Report
The report was released in partnership with industry stakeholders, led by Madica, an Africa-focused pre-seed investment programme dedicated to empowering underrepresented and underfunded mission-driven founders.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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OPEC Fund Provides $50 Million Loan to Vietnam’s SeABank for Small Business and Climate Financing
In a statement on Monday, SeABank said the loan can help it increase lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which account for around half of employment in Vietnam but continue to face a significant financing gap.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Press Release: Catalyst Fund Deepens Bet on Africa’s Climate Resilience Founders
Catalyst Fund, the pan-African venture fund and venture builder backing founders from pre-seed to Series A, has announced the completion of its second close, with total commitments now reaching $30 million.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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