microfinance

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Financial Inclusion

Bank Andara: A bank for banks in Indonesia grows micro businesses and turns a profit

The first of its kind, a wholesale bank called Bank Andara has been making tech-savvy banking services available to the Indonesian microfinance sector for four years, now achieving a profit.

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Financial Inclusion

A penny saved is two pennies earned for women in savings groups

In May, Oxfam America and Freedom from Hunger published the largest study to date on the impact of community-based savings groups. And the findings are promising.

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Social Enterprise

Tech startup finds the ticket to growth with old ideas

A brand-new Mexican tech startup is making its products affordable using a centuries-old financing trick that lets startups and their customers shift their risk toward third-party investors.

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Financial Inclusion

Microloans: Not just for businesses, they can help the poor meet basic needs

Microloans can be used for more than business investments: they can help families gain better access to safe water and sanitation.

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Financial Inclusion

Visualizing Financial Inclusion (and Shaping It)

Want to see just how fast financial inclusion is spreading? Just map it.

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Financial Inclusion

An underrated road out of poverty: Saving money

The global poor already prefer savings to loans, but add in an additional monetary incentive to save and piggy banks begin to fill even faster.

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Social Enterprise

Announcing the Winners of the NextBillion Case Writing Competition

What does it take to build and sustain a successful social enterprise? NextBillion’s Case Writing Contest explores and rewards the best business strategies aimed at alleviating poverty. Find out more about the three winning ideas.

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Social Enterprise

Micro-loans may be trendy, but enterprises that employ more than one will grow economies

Direct micro-lending is all the rage, but while it has many advantages for the poor, not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur. Most people just want a job.

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Youth Skills

Why financial inclusion for youth will raise all economic boats

Groups fighting for financial inclusion and youth employment united in Morocco. Will their findings promote progress?

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Financial Inclusion

Unleashing Ugandan farmers’ potential through mobile phones

A powerful new mobile platform combining agriculture information and financial services specifically designed for farmers in Uganda is going live, helping them plow even more value from each acre.