Grameen Foundation, Microsoft to announce new tech initiative

Microfinance Focus, Dec. 1, 2009:  Grameen Foundation USA and the global IT giant Microsoft are planning a series of education and mentoring forums and other activities to help microfinance institutions strengthen their technology management capabilities.
To be announced later this week, it’s part of an effort by Grameen to help microfinance institutions understand how technology can enhance their work.
One of the signature products of Grameen is the Village Phone, which local entrepreneurs rent to villagers for pennies a call.
Grameen also has a partnership with Google in Africa for its AppLab, using mobile phones to help people in poor communities without Internet access get information about farming, health and trading by SMS.
Mobile phones, which are becoming commonplace in many developing countries, have proven to have a number of promising applications, including mobile banking and medical diagnostics. The M-PESA system in Kenya, developed to help borrowers receive and repay money for micro loans, now has more than 6 million subscribers.

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• CGAP, DFID join hands to boost mobile banking for the unbanked
• Grameen Foundation to expand tech initiative to Uganda
• FrontlineSMS Scales Service with Omidyar Network Grant of $350,000
• Mobile banking is the key to financial inclusion

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