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December 26, 2013
Banking goes ‘branchless’ to reach unbanked: Initiatives in the Pacific
This post details the proceedings and conclusions of the first-ever Pacific Branchless Banking Seminar, held in Sydney recently. Sponsored by the Asian Development Bank and the CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), it had representation from countries like Timor Leste, Tonga, the Philippines, Fiji and others. Read more about […]
December 26, 2013
Mobile money and virtual currencies for cross border remittances: opportunity or risk?
This post looks at the integration between BitCoin type decentralized digital currency and mobile wallets in Kenya. This approach could be lower in cost for the users, but also poses certain risks that should be addressed in the future. Read more here.
December 26, 2013
Cambodia: Obstacles hinder microinsurance adoption
According to a new study by the UNDP in Cambodia, 78% of the interviewed 302 Cambodians expressed interest in microinsurance, but have not availed of the services because of low knowledge and funding for it. Read more here.
December 26, 2013
New Karl Mehta book will highlight the potential of financial inclusion
Karl Mehta, best known as co-founder of PlaySpan and partner at Menlo Ventures, has announced the launch of a new book with his fellow entrepreneur Carol Realini, called “Financial Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid”. According to him in the next 5 years, financial services will reach another 1-2 […]
December 26, 2013
Unconditional cash transfers: Testing new theories
Should donor money be spent on infrastructure for the low income, or should the money just be handed out to the poor? This is a question that the international community is currently trying to answer. Loans given to people lesser known for responsibility – criminals, drug addicts showed that it […]
December 26, 2013
Will Kenya export its mobile banking revolution to India?
Mobile banking may have been a hit in Kenya (one in every three Kenyans have an M-Pesa account) but its success in other emerging markets is questionable, due to a slew of challenges in the localized markets, of regulatory, technical and economic nature. However, the need for mobile financial transactions […]
December 26, 2013
Japan joins the global force for Universal Healthcare Mission
Universal healthcare has been on Japan’s agenda for a while, but the country has only recently formally backed the World Bank in its agenda of universal healthcare access. Read more here.
December 26, 2013
UNITAID approves US$140 million in funding for HIV/AIDS treatment in Africa
UNITAID recently approved a grant of over US$140 million which will enable treatment of over 100,000 HIV/AIDS afflicted children in Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda. Read more here.
December 26, 2013
World Bank launches new program for improved health care in developing countries
World Bank is now devising new ways to fund healthcare to reduce maternal and infant deaths by ‘results based financing’. New ways are being innovated so that incentives are given to trained midwives for every healthy child they deliver, and mothers are paid to have their children delivered in hospitals, […]
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06 Key Lessons for informing policy decisions: Mainstreaming tribal-specific climate adaptive capacities in vulnerable coastal regions within National Action Plan on Climate Change
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Four Key Lessons for Policy Consideration: Scaling Climate Adaptive Capacities among Small and Marginal Farming Communities in the Sundarbans
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Five Key Lessons for Policy Consideration: Scaling Climate Action Programs for Landless Rural Communities in Semi-Arid Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin in South Asia
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View Blog Posts
GST 2.0 and Tax Cuts: Can They Make Growth Fairer and Greener?
India's latest GST reform, being termed as GST 2.0, is more than just slashing rates. By simplifying the tax structure, cutting levies on essentials, and supporting renewable infrastructure, it's open..
Reimagining Sports in CSR: From Tokenism to a Vehicle for Multiplying Impact
In 2023–24, Indian companies spent about ₹1,396 crore of their CSR budgets on sports — just 4% of the total ₹34,909 crore Indian corporates spent on CSR that year. Most of the rest went to edu..
Interactive SHG Map of India: 7.5 million Women Self Help Groups are spread across 27 States and 6 UTs in India
Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), India has 7.5 million Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) spread across 27 states and 6 Union Territories. Each of these small, self-governed, and peer-co..