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UN report: Social network payments now reach nearly US $3 trillion in China
A new UN study reveals that Alipay and WeChat Pay enabled US$2.9 trillion in Chinese digital payments in 2016, representing a 20-fold increase in the past four years. The data shows that digital payments, using existing platforms and networks, provide access to a wider range of digital financial services, expanding financial inclusion and economic opportunity throughout China and neighboring countries.
- Categories
- Technology
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Franchise model ideal to ensure financial inclusivity in Africa – Zoona
There are regions in Africa where money merchants trade on the side of the road, armed with huge stacks of both US dollars and their local currency, where cash is exchanged so rapidly, so effectively that it barely gets noticed. People go about their business - hardly acknowledging what to many foreigners would probably seem somewhat unusual. But this is the reality of Africa's unbanked, informal but money-intensive market in 2017 - one that mobile payments firm Zoona is looking to target with infrastructure and services.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ex-Safaricom chief Joseph set to leave Vodafone
Former Safaricom #ticker:SCOM chief executive Michael Joseph is set to step down as Vodafone’s director of mobile money later this year as part of a wider plan to disengage from all his full-time roles at the telecom giant. Mr Joseph, who is the chairman of Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ, is also set to relinquish his non-executive director positions at Vodafone’s African subsidiaries — Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom Tanzania and Vodacom Group South Africa.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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How Liberia’s New Generation Of Female Entrepreneurs Is Revitalizing The Economy
As a child, Odelia Acolyte fled her home of Liberia to neighboring Nigeria to escape the bloodshed of civil war. But she returned home frequently to visit family and always felt that what would help people in her country most would be to give them a job. “When I would go home, I would always find people sitting around,” says Acolyte, “I wanted to be part of change in society.”
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Accion Report Shows How Leveraging Data Can Lead to Greater Financial Inclusion
Accion released a report that charts a path for FSPs to use data to accelerate financial inclusion and improve their business operations. This report, developed by Accion with the support of the Citi Foundation, details the steps providers can take to lay the groundwork for big data and advanced analytics by improving their ability to generate, analyze, and respond to data of any size – starting with the information and data they already have – to help extend high-quality financial services to the underserved.
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- data, financial inclusion
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Grameen Foundation lndia appoints Prabhat Labh as CEO
Grameen Foundation India, an innovator in the use of digital technology to advance financial inclusion, has named Prabhat Labh as its new CEO. He succeeds Chandni Ohri who helped to launch the company and has served as CEO since 2011. An international development expert with more than two decades of experience in leading programs and initiatives across Asia, Africa and North America. Prabhat brings with him an indepth knowledge of financial inclusion.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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ImpactUs Welcomes First Issuers to its Impact Investing Marketplace
Financial technology provider ImpactUs today announced the onboarding of the first issuers to its impact investing platform, ImpactUs Marketplace. The Marketplace is a community-driven full-service platform offering institutions, individuals and financial advisors an extensive range of private impact investing opportunities.
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- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- North America
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India’s attempt to go cashless is turning food vouchers digital
India's push for a digital, cashless society is well-documented by now. After last year's currency ban, the country has pushed cashless transactions in every sphere of citizen life — from payments at the local grocer and refuels at gas stations to utility bill payments and more.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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