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Report: UNICEF and Partners Bring Child-Lens Investing to the Forefront of Global Financial Inclusion
The four organizations, along with a cohort of impact investors and financial services companies, have collaborated to embed the child-lens impact assessment approach into the 2025 Microfinance Index (MFI Index), the world's largest financial inclusion study grounded in customer voice.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
- Region
- Global
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Being a Changemaker in an Era of Accelerating Change: A Q&A with Ashoka Founder and Social Entrepreneurship Pioneer Bill Drayton
NextBillion last interviewed Bill Drayton — the founder of Ashoka and a seminal figure in the social entrepreneurship movement — on the sidelines of SOCAP almost 10 years. Since that time, the sector (and the world around us) have experienced massive change, but one thing has remained consistent: Drayton’s focus on empowering changemakers around the world to transform their innovative ideas into lasting impact. Earlier this year, he was given the Skoll Foundation’s Global Treasure Award in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the field of social entrepreneurship: In this Q&A, he shares his thoughts on the sector as it enters a new era full of emerging challenges — and exciting opportunities.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Rwanda Launches Innovate4DigiJobs to Boost Youth Opportunities in the Digital Sector
This program is focused on empowering young people in Rwanda with actionable digital skills and facilitating access to meaningful job prospects in the country’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ghana Launches Groundbreaking National Business Agenda to Empower Youth and Women Entrepreneurs
"The initiative, unveiled at a high-level event in Accra, represents a rare collaboration between government agencies, business associations, civil society, and international development partners."
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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No More Second Shots: A Step Towards Self-Boosting Vaccines
Scientists are designing microparticles that could deliver vaccines at predefined times after they’ve been injected.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Global
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U.S. Aid Cuts Leave $11 Million in Birth Control Supplies for Sub-Saharan Africa Stranded
"Millions of contraceptives intended to support women across Africa are reportedly sitting idle in warehouses and are at risk of being destroyed due to delays and funding cuts from the United States government."
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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As U.S. Foreign Aid Drops, United Nations Agencies That Provide Aid Worldwide Slash Jobs or Cut Costs
One WFP official called the cuts “the most massive” seen by the agency in the past 25 years, and that as a result, operations will disappear or be downsized.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Global
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Namibia Will Offer Free University Education Starting in 2026
New Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced Thursday that her government will introduce free higher education at state universities and technical colleges starting next year.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- academia, business education, youth
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