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Ask a Microfinance Expert: M-Banking
The microfinance landscape has changed because of the advent of mobile phone banking technology. With the simple use of a cellular phone, Opportunity clients can check their account balances, transfer money between accounts, send money to other people, pay bills, receive salary or government payments, and buy airtime. If the people cannot come to the Read more…
Tagged IGP Learning Network, Mobile Banking, Mobile Phones, Rural banking, SEEP Network, Technology
Melinda Gates Highlights Opportunity International
Earlier this week, Opportunity International was honored to host Melinda Gates as she visited some of our clients and experienced our banking services in Malawi. With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Opportunity is expanding access to savings accounts, loans, training and insurance to people struggling to work their way out of Read more…
Development as a strategic, economic and moral imperative
“Women and girls are one of the world’s greatest untapped resources and a terrific return on investment…I have seen for myself the transformative power of microlending in women’s lives and their families and communities.” The above quote is from a speech given earlier this week at the Center for Global Development by Secretary of State Read more…
#Mifimon: Microfinance and Technology
The following is a collaborative post from Grameen Foundation’s Edward Cable and Opportunity International’s Amy Carol Wolff. Moderators: @amycarolwolff @mifos Panelists: @bhalchander @creditsms @GrameenAppLab @msftcitizenship Participants: @aaspire @hanacaraka @microempowering @HoracioCoutino @laurakummer @licorous @zyozyfounder @mongkolroek @RealizedWorth @CIPEglobal @CFI_ACCION @digitalkulcha @AJRenold @Optinnow The topic from this past #Mifimon: strategic use of technology for microfinance. Technology and innovation Read more…
Tagged Cloud technology, Efficiency, Innovation, Microfinance, Mobile Banking, Product Development, Rural Outreach, Technology
Saving Their Way Out of Poverty
In the Kejetia Market in Kumasi, Ghana, there are 10,000 vendors and market stalls covering an area of 36 acres. Dozens of Susu collectors roam the narrow walkways wearing brightly colored coats with many pockets, each with a wad of money inside. Susu collectors provide a way for people to save and access their own Read more…
Tagged Clients, Entrepreneurs, Ghana, Markets, Mobile Banking, Opportunity Ghana, Savings, Susu collectors
The Power of Mobile Money
The microfinance world was buzzing this week about the latest edition of The Economist (9/24/09), which features a special report on the “power of mobile money.” According to Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, the mobile phone has become “the single most transformative tool for development.” A number of innovative uses for the phone Read more…
Tagged Africa, Economist, G-Cash, Information and communications technology, Kenya, M-banking, M-PESA, Malawi, Microfinance, Mobile Banking, Mobile Phones, Opportunity Kenya, Philippines, Safaricom, Smart Money, Tanzania, WIZZIT
