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Kenyan Energy Startup, SunCulture Obtains $11 Million for Its Solar-Powered Irrigation Expansion Across Africa
SunCulture, a solar irrigation startup headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, has received an $11 million line of credit to expand its operations across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: EU-Africa Partnership Must Reflect ‘Realities of African Agriculture’
Future agrifood partnerships between the EU and Africa take into account the realities of farming in Africa, especially in the context of a drive for a greener transition, agrifood stakeholders have warned.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Togo: Microfinance Institutions Slow Down on Lending as Overdue Loans Spike Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, microfinance institutions active in Togo considerably lowered loans to the public in the nine first months of 2020.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Development Bank of Southern Africa Issues $242 Million Green Bond to Support a Low Carbon Economy
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has announced the launch of its first green bond. The €200 million ($242 million) bond was issued through a private placement with the French development finance institution, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How Digital Technology Is Reshaping Rural Microfinance
“When most people think of microfinance, they think of group-lending programs or maybe even mobile money systems like M-Pesa,” said Carter. "But there are other opportunities with mobile phones, satellites and other digital technologies to enhance access to small scale financial services to low-wealth rural households in developing countries.”
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenyan Recycles Plastic Waste Into Bricks Stronger Than Concrete
“Our product is almost five to seven times stronger than concrete,” said Matee, the founder of Nairobi-based Gjenge Makers, which transforms plastic waste into durable building materials.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenya: Women Pay More to Access Mobile Money Services
According to the report, Payments System Design and the Financial Inclusion Gender Gap, the study conducted in major towns across the country shows a strong gender bias in transaction fees, with women paying about Sh11 per peer-to-peer transaction, compared with Sh7 for men, on average.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ethiopia Sees Jump in Mobile Payments Despite COVID-19
COVID-19 has created many disruptions in Ethiopia this year, impacting both merchants and consumers. The World Health Organization warned that paper currency can risk spreading the virus, and encouraged adoption of digital payments as a safer alternative.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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