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An Unlevel Playing Field: Why Small Businesses Face Disadvantages in Digital Commerce – and How Inclusive Tech Innovations Could Help
One reason COVID-19 has been so damaging to global micro and small enterprises (MSEs) is that consumers have shifted towards purchasing online – a change that has mainly benefited large corporations. According to Malika Anand at BFA's Catalyst Fund, making digital commerce more inclusive could help these businesses survive and grow in the long term. She shares research from Ghana that highlights several promising opportunities for digital commerce innovations that can benefit informal MSEs.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology, Transportation
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WorldRemit Partners With Nest to Empower African Entrepreneurs
WorldRemit, a leading international payment company is partnering with Pan-African tech incubation hub, Nest Innovation Technology, to build scalable business models across Africa via the WorldRemit Entrepreneurs Programme.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: DFC Announces Direct Equity Request for Applications
DFC seeks applications to invest in early, growth-stage companies committed to developmental impact
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Bboxx Secures Loan With FEI OGEF to Accelerate Energy Access in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Bboxx, a next generation utility, has secured a $4 million loan from the Facility for Energy Inclusion Off-Grid Energy Access Fund (FEI OGEF), a debt fund managed by Lion’s Head Global Partners (LHGP).
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Microsoft Collaborates With Social Alpha to Accelerate Growth of Healthtech Startups in India
In its continued efforts to support the startup ecosystem in the country, Microsoft has launched a dedicated program for healthtech startups. The program is designed to help startups scale with advanced technology and joint go-to-market support. Microsoft is also collaborating with startup incubator Social Alpha to accelerate the growth of participating startups.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Press Release: First-Ever Peace REC (P-REC) Transaction Drives Renewable Energy Development in Africa
The first-ever Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) transaction has been executed by Microsoft with Energy Peace Partners (EPP) and project developer Nuru. In the agreement, Microsoft is purchasing P-RECs issued by EPP from a new solar project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which will directly finance the installation of streetlights in a recently electrified neighborhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The streetlights are connected to the same solar-plus-storage system which generates the electricity associated with the P-RECs. The transaction was facilitated by renewable energy, transportation decarbonization, and climate solutions specialist 3Degrees.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Reversal of Fortune: Five Ways Biden’s Win Will Boost Impact Investing in Emerging Markets
In the aftermath of the U.S. election, there's been considerable discussion of how Biden’s victory will impact different industries. According to Josh Knauer at JumpScale, one particular sector that will benefit is impact investing. He explains how the work of impact investors had become more difficult during the Trump years, and why there's reason to believe that the incoming administration will give the sector’s efforts in emerging markets a significant boost.
- Categories
- Energy, Finance, Investing, Technology, Transportation
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Technology Innovations Look To Change the Cacao Landscape in Colombia
As Colombia searches for a way forward after a half-century of war, the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) could have a significant role to play. Called the food of the gods, this squat tropical hardwood holds exceptional social and environmental promise in the intractable expanses of the country.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment
- Region
- Latin America
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