by Harriet Ritchie -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fintech Zeepay of Ghana Buys Controlling Stake in Mangwee Mobile Money of Zambia

The Ghana-based financial technology (fintech) company Zeepay recently bought a 51-percent stake in Zambia-based digital wallet and remittance platform Mangwee Mobile Money for an undisclosed price. Zeepay Managing Director Andrew Takyi-Appiah noted, “The acquisition… will give Zeepay access to Mozambique, Malawi, Angola and Namibia among others in our effort to

by Bradley Shulman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Belize Bank, Wallet Factory to Launch Digital Payment Service E-kyash

Wallet Factory, a financial technology company based in the UK, recently partnered with Belize Bank Limited, a commercial bank in Belize, to create E-kyash, a digital payment platform aiming to ease financial transactions for people without bank accounts. E-kyash’s offerings include utility bill payments, retail payments via

by Simrun Kothari -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Jazzcash, Mastercard Partner to Expand Card-based, Digital Payments in Pakistan

Jazzcash, a unit of Netherlands-based Veon, recently partnered with Mastercard, a US-based payments company, to broaden the offerings of the mobile wallet service it operates in Pakistan. Jazzcash, which was founded in 2012, enables its users to send and receive money via mobile phones. Under the new partnership, Jazzcash customers will be able to use

by Simrun Kothari -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: SafeBoda Uganda, UNCDF Launch E-commerce Platform for Market Vendors Looking to Maintain Operations During Pandemic

SafeBoda, a Uganda-based owner of an app for hailing motorcycle rides in three countries, and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), a UN agency that supports small businesses in developing countries, recently partnered to launch an e-commerce platform. This is a response to the

by Simrun Kothari -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: In Response to COVID-19, Western Union Transitions to Home Delivery of Money Transfers in Jordan

The Western Union Company, a US-based financial services and communications firm, recently announced that the company’s agents will deliver money transfers directly to customers’ homes in Jordan. Each delivery is to occur within

by Eugene DeCosse -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Institution VisionFund, UK Department for International Development (DFID) to Expand Mobile Banking in Rural Myanmar

VisionFund Myanmar, a microfinance institution (MFI) operating within the nonprofit VisionFund International, is partnering with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) on a USD 1.7 million project to expand mobile banking in Myanmar. The effort is intended to provide

by Shuyang Sun -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Investor Forum: “Responsible Finance for Digital Inclusion: Investing for Impact;” April 3 – 4, 2019; Washington DC, USA

This forum is intended to bring together a wide range of investors to share insights on “social performance and impact management,” particularly as related to digital financial services (DFS). This will include discussions of the Guidelines for Investing in Responsible Digital Financial Services, which were established in 2018. These 10 guidelines cover

by Shuyang Sun -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Money Transfer Summit (GMTS); March 26 – 27, 2019; Cape Town, South Africa

This summit is meant to “promote innovative opportunities between the international cross-border remittance services and local payment systems in Africa.” Its themes include fintech (financial technology), regulation and the impact of cryptocurrency. Panel sessions will address topics such as barriers to mobile money transfers, various case studies, and potential synergies between postal systems and digital financial services. The International Association of Money Transfer Networks (IAMTN) plans

by Nicholas Galimberti -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IFC, Azerbaijan to Expand Digital Financial Services in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with Funding from Switzerland’s SECO

The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) recently began working with the government of Azerbaijan to implement a cashless payment system in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a self-governing territory in Azerbaijan.

by Nicholas Galimberti -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MTN, Airtel Launch Rwanda-to-Tanzania Mobile Remittance Service

Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Rwanda, a subsidiary of South Africa’s MTN Group, and Airtel Tanzania, which is controlled by Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel, recently launched a remittance service allowing MTN Rwanda customers to use their mobile phones to send

by Jared Junkin -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Africa Innovation Summit (AIS); June 6 – 8, 2018: Kigali, Rwanda

Summary of Event: The theme of this conference is facilitating development in Africa by empowering entrepreneurs across the continent. The topics include Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in Africa; Building a Resilient and Competitive Economy for Africa’s Future; 21st Century African Cities; Financing and Scaling up

by Meraj Husain -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Mobile Money Agents in Uganda; Sustainable Microfinance; Mobile Money for the Global Unbanked

“Agent Network Accelerator Survey: Uganda Country Report 2013;” published by Helix Institute of Digital Finance; January 2014; 26 pages; available at http://www.helix-institute.com/data-and-insights/agent-network-accelerator-survey-%E2%80%93-uganda-country-report-2013-0

This document presents the results of a study conducted by the US-based nonprofit Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and India-based for-profit consultancy MicroSave that seeks to identify the challenges, trends and successes of the mobile money market in Uganda by surveying 2,000 agents.