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Press release: USAID Announces $18.4 Million in Support of Cutting Edge Innovations
Since 2010, USAID-supported DIV innovations have collectively impacted 25 million people living in poverty and resulted in $4 in funding from outside investors, lenders and philanthropies for every U.S. taxpayer dollar spent.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North America
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Reserve Bank of India Says ‘No’ to Islamic Banking
Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is prohibited under Islam. The issue of introduction of the interest-free banking in India was examined by RBI and the government of India, the central bank added.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- Islamic finance
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Reimagining Slums: Innovative Solutions to Bangladesh’s Urban Housing Dilemma
Bangladesh's housing deficit has quadrupled in the last decade and, in the absence of adequate measures, it is projected to increase to 8.5 million units by 2021. Due to extreme demand and lack of rent control in slums, housing prices are sky-high. BRAC's Asif Saleh and Mahira Khan say these challenges highlight an opportunity for testing out models for urban development that leverage government, private business and the development sector.
- Categories
- Investing, Uncategorized
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How Latino Entrepreneurs Can Fight Intergenerational Poverty: The Impact of Retirement Plans
Hispanics in the United States have an estimated buying power of $1.4 trillion – about 10 percent of the country's buying power. Despite this economic clout, they lag behind in retirement savings. Traditionally, many have taken care of their elderly parents and, in turn, expect their children to do the same for them. Manuel Carvallo of Hispanic Wealth suggests it's time for the growing number of Latino entrepreneurs to take the lead by establishing retirement plans.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
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Zambia Launches Its First National Financial Inclusion Strategy
The strategy, policy and the survey report are a product of extensive stakeholder consultations with members of the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, and academia led by the Government's National Financial Inclusion Drafting Committee. The strategy will guide Zambia in its plan to achieve the universal access and use of a broad range of affordable financial products and services.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Report: 52 Million People in Latin America Protected by Microinsurance
More than 8.2% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean had at least one microinsurance policy as of December 2016, with 52.1 million people insured corresponding to USD 420 million in Gross Written Premiums.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
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UN Considering Reforms to Deliver the SDGs
As Member States and civil society begin the process of evaluating the implications of the Secretary-General’s report, this policy brief seeks to enhance the level of understanding and engagement in the debate through a review of the assessment of the UN development system undertaken by external experts and the Secretary-General’s related reform proposals.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- global development, SDGs
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Centrum Capital to acquire FirstRand Bank’s microfinance business in India
As part of starting up, Centrum Capital has executed a definitive agreement to acquire the Indian microfinance business of South Africa-based FirstRand Bank, which currently has around 70,000 customers in the Maharashtra region and employs over 300 people. This is the second lending business the firm has recently entered, following its entry into affordable housing finance at the end of last year.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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