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Pension funds are key to Africa’s transformation — and city officials can help
Africa has seen over two decades of rising investment, including an exponential rise in foreign direct investment that has rebounded from the 2008 global financial crisis. But this investment is not accompanied by the requisite economic and social transformation that would allow the poorest countries to provide their citizens with the same type of sustainable opportunities seen in developed countries.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
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KickStart and VisionFund to Bring Affordable Irrigation to African Farmers
Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are set to benefit from a new partnership between World Vision’s microfinance arm, VisionFund International (VisionFund) and non-profit social enterprise, KickStart International (KickStart). The partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide an integrated solution to enable farmers to access, purchase and implement irrigation systems. With ambitious targets, the partnership anticipates 100,000 farmers (and 400,000 children) will benefit from greater access to water for their crops over the next five years.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Impact Fund Managers from Africa and South America Join Capria Network
Today Capria announced it has signed agreements to invest in four fund managers who have joined Capria Network, the leading global network of impact fund managers. Capria’s 4th investment cycle has begun, seeking connection with more managers in emerging markets.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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M-Pesa boss shrugs off Safaricom split concerns, sees opportunities
"To be honest, I do not lie awake thinking about the challenges rather the opportunities we still have to deliver on,” Safaricom's director for financial services and head of M-Pesa Ronald Webb told the Star in an interview. This was in response to proposed legislation to split the operations of telecommunications firm from mobile money transfer services.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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More banks given go-ahead to roll out mobile cash in Kenya
The number of commercial banks approved by the Central Bank of Kenya to operate interbank mobile money transfer platform, PesaLink, has doubled to 24 from 12. The product was unveiled on February 16.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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High tech taxi-cab hailing in Africa – a tale of two countries
Entry of the mobile technology ride-sharing service, Uber, into passenger transport markets across the world has brought disruptive competition with substantial benefits to consumers. Africa is no exception.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Africa finds its own path for fintech development
Fintech in Africa remains the most financially supported area of tech start-up activity in the continent. The Disrupt Africa African Tech Startups Funding Report 2016 found that fintechs received a combined $31.4 million in investment during the year.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech
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Safaricom and mSurvey launch Consumer Wallet to map Africa’s cash economy
Kenya’s leading mobile provider, Safaricom, is teaming up with data collection startup mSurvey to launch Consumer Wallet ― an online platform using mobile and SMS to map Africa’s cash-based economy.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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