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Paytm Launches Wi-Fi Pilot in India; Enables Free Internet for a Limited Duration
Underlining its digital-first approach, Paytm, India’s largest mobile payments and commerce platform, has announced the launch of its ambitious pilot project to enable seamless internet connectivity for users. Under this initiative, Paytm is enabling limited-duration free Wi-Fi for its users in partnership with a licensed ISP. The first such Wi-Fi initiative is already underway near the Noida-18 metro station in partnership with a licensed ISP.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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India’s Microfinance Industry Puts Crisis Behind It, Thanks to Regulations, Diligent Borrowers
The aroma of flaming gingelly oil wafted through the air as 16 women employees of Thrissurbased Global Chips & Foods braced themselves for another long day at work. A black wooden board, hung on a recently white-washed wall, listed out their day's chores: 20 kilograms of tapioca chips and 20 kgs potato chips.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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An Underutilized Weapon Against Climate Change Risks: Maximizing the Potential of Micro-insurance
Over the past few decades, changes in climate activity have led to extreme weather events that have posed substantial threats to security and financial well-being – particularly at the bottom of the economic pyramid. As these natural disasters may become the new norm, new strategies are needed to address their impact, both during and after the events. One approach to building this resilience is through asset-based micro-insurance.
- Categories
- Environment
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Janalakshmi, The Largest Microfinance Institution in India, Announces $210M Equity Round
Janalakshmi Financial Services Limited (“Janalakshmi”) today announced a $150 million (INR 10 billion) round of primary equity financing led by global private investment firm TPG. In addition, secondary transactions aggregating $60 million (INR 4 billion) will provide partial exits to existing investors.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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The Most Powerful Weapon for Changing the World: How Microfinance Institutions Can Increase Access to Education
Nelson Mandela described education as the “most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” But how can we increase access to quality education for children and adults? The author maintains that governments and the philanthropic sector can play a role, but there's also a practical need for private financial resources to support education access.
- Categories
- Education
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Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC: Poverty’s About Deprivation, and It’s Fixable (Video)
“Oppressed people have got their own way of thinking about life,” said Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC, “and if you can somehow mobilize them, make them critically aware of their own condition, and get them to act on their own behalf, make them an actor in their own history, then things become much easier.” Watch our in-depth interview.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Easypaisa, Nestle Collaborate to Facilitate Dairy Farmer Payments in Pakistan
Providing financial access to thousands of Pakistani dairy farmers as part of its mission of empowering societies, Easypaisa has collaborated with Nestlé Pakistan to make disbursement of milk collection payments swift, easy, and transparent.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Financial Products are Available – Why Aren’t the Poor Using Them?: IPA is seeking research partners to help answer that question
Take-up of mobile financial products remains low, and usage rates are often disappointing. That's why Innovations for Poverty Action is facilitating research to test solutions to this problem. We're republishing this post, which originally ran last July, since IPA is re-opening its fund for research proposals. The new deadline for Expressions of Interest applications is April 29, 2016.
- Categories
- Education
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