-
Viewpoint: The Next Step for Developing Cuba? Microfinance
All eyes are on Cuba as U.S. President Barack Obama and at least 20 members of Congress descend on Havana today. While members of the delegation differ on the best path forward for U.S.-Cuban relations, everyone hopes for economic development that improves the quality of life for the average Cuban. What are the next steps for development in Cuba? And, how can the international community help Cuba preserve the educational and health gains of the Cuban revolution, while also updating its failing economic model?
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
-
Trust Issues Hamper Indonesia’s Government Endorsed Financial Inclusion Campaign
The government’s joint effort with banking institutions to promote financial inclusion across the archipelago is facing a major hurdle as most people from low-income households are reluctant to let individual agents take care of their savings under the government-endorsed branchless banking program, a recent study has revealed.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
M-Pesa Shows Why Mobile Money Is Yet to Realize Its True Potential in Africa
Last November, “60 Minutes”, the flagship news magazine show on US television network CBS, ran a whole segment on M-Pesa, the mobile money service which was started in Kenya nine years ago by Safaricom, the country’s largest mobile phone company. It was a great moment for Kenyan innovation, being featured on prime time television for millions of Americans who were likely hearing about M-Pesa for the first time.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
18th Microcredit Summit Campaign Announces Declaration on Economic Empowerment and Social Inclusion
Organised jointly by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and the Microcredit Summit Campaign, the summit gathered 1000 global policy makers, central bank managers and microfinance experts to explore and discuss innovative financial inclusion strategies that can create clear pathways to economic and social inclusion.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
-
Analysis: Financial Inclusion Implications of India’s new National ID Law
On Friday, the Lok Sabha stamped its overwhelming approval on the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill. Since it is a money bill, the Rajya Sabha cannot exercise a veto. It is for all practical purposes just short of becoming law.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
Small Farmers Meet Big Data: How the data revolution could transform smallholder finance
The enormous gap between the supply and demand of formal credit for smallholder farmers has been well documented. Among the varied causes of this mismatch is the extreme lack of information on potential borrowers that’s available to lenders. Two recent data-focused innovations, however, could dramatically reduce these information challenges and the associated lending risks, which could help open up pools of capital for previously underserved populations.
- Categories
- Agriculture
-
Zimbabwe Launches National Financial Inclusion Strategy
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe through various stakeholders is aiming to increase the level of access to formal financial services within the country to 90 percent from 69 percent while improving the proportion of financially included small business to 80 percent by 2020.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Weekly Roundup: Obama Chases Bush’s Africa Legacy, Kenya’s Diaspora Leadership and Gray Ghost’s $60M Fund
It’s incongruous to many that the son of a Kenyan is widely perceived to have done less to help Africa than a predecessor best known for putting the U.S. in a bad war and a bad light in so many other places around the globe. Could the President’s Malaria Initiative help change those perceptions?
- Categories
- Health Care
The Best of NextBillion in Your Inbox Each Week!
Subscribe to NB Notes for news, jobs & on-the-ground insights from the world of emerging markets business.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.