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In the Birthplace of Mobile Money, Kenyans Prefer Paying Cash for Uber
Despite fierce opposition from traditional taxi drivers, Kenya has become one of Uber’s fastest-growing African markets, and allowing cash payments played a crucial role in the growth, according to Alon Lits, Uber general manager for sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech
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Viewpoint: Much Hangs on Mobile Money in East Africa
From his shack in Kangemi, a slum at the western edge of Nairobi, Gilbert Onduko sells bare essentials to his neighbours. A blackboard above the hatch lists prices for ugali(maize cooked into a sort of porridge), farina (similar to semolina) and cooking oil. On the roof of the shack is a small solar panel, about the size of a tea tray, which powers two lights inside and a mobile phone. Since he got it, about a month before your correspondent visited, Mr Onduko has been able to keep his shop open until midnight rather than just in the daytime. He has also cut down his kerosene bill by 100 shillings (about $1) a day—a hefty saving in a Nairobi slum. “And now my phone is always charged,” he grins.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Malaria Resistance ‘Unable to Spread’
The first case of the malaria parasite being unable to spread its resistance to drugs has been discovered by scientists in Australia.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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A New Map of Poverty, a New Approach to International Aid
More people are living longer and living better than at any time in history. In the past 25 years alone, child mortality has declined by more than half. The proportion of people suffering from hunger has been cut almost as much. And countries like China and South Korea—once major recipients of development aid—have emerged as global-economic powers.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Africa’s Banks Work With Fintech Startups to Avoid Being Left Behind
Africa's banks are running scared. On a continent where traditional banking has clearly failed – 80 percent of the population, around 330 million adults, don't use formal or semiformal banking services – new services are emerging that could yet render banks redundant.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- fintech
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The MasterCard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity Announces Winners of 2015 Scaling Competition and Launches 2016 Competition
The MasterCard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity today awarded five companies more than US$10.6 million to bolster their innovative work to alleviate poverty by increasing access to financial services for poor people in rural Africa. The five companies introduced imaginative thinking in their approach to scaling up financial inclusion – the increase in access to services such as mobile banking, savings accounts, insurance and credit – for the benefit of nearly eight million people in remote parts of Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Grounds for Health Launches New Program in Kenya
Grounds for Health, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the prevention of cervical cancer in developing countries, today announced the expansion of its East Africa program to Kenya. The move into Kenya reflects the organization’s continued commitment to reach women living in high-risk regions and working in agricultural supply chains. Coffee industry partners providing start-up funds for Kenya include Atlas Coffee, Bennett’s Coffee, Coda Coffee, Peet’s Coffee and Tony’s Coffee. Additionally, this year the organization is celebrating its 20thyear working in coffee-growing communities. The organization made the announcement on the eve of this year’s Specialty Coffee Association of America’s annual conference taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Plan for Poorer Countries to Fund HIV Response Raises Concerns
Calls for low and middle income countries to contribute an additional 6.1 billion dollars to the global HIV response by 2020 could see some vulnerable groups left behind, said HIV activists meeting at the United Nations last week.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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