Research spotlight: carbon leakage to developing countries

What is carbon leakage, and why does it matter? Julian Marenz (PhD student in Economics, London Business School) joined us to discuss the complex impact of European carbon taxes on developing countries, and the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development research project that is trying to measure it. Tell us more about the research study,…

Improving the effectiveness of formal housing delivery in Tanzania

Promoting evidence-based practices to enable solutions scaling by business The operation of urban land markets in developing countries is critical to building sustainable cities. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation, pressuring cities with limited institutional capacity. Challenges include inadequate provision of housing, a proliferation of slums and rising inequality. Many African countries suffer from weak…

Understanding how to scale gender impact through fintech

Scale Series Expert Q&A with Katherine Owens, Head of Labs (R&D) at M-KOPA. Read our previous Q&A with with Ruby Nimkar, Principal at Greenhouse Capital. As part of a series of expert interviews, the Wheeler Institute’s Science of Scale research team interviewed experts including practitioners, policymakers and investors to understand practicalities and perspectives on scaling digital…

Scale Series Expert Q&A with Ruby Nimkar

Read our next Scale Series Expert Q&A with Katherine Owens, Head of Labs (R&D) at M-KOPA. As part of an on-going series, the Wheeler Institute’s DigitalxScale research team interviewed experts including practitioners, policymakers and investors to understand practicalities and perspectives on scaling digital technologies across Africa. In this interview with Ruby Nimkar, Principal at Greenhouse Capital, WIBD…

Is there a science to scale? Launch of the DigitalxScale website and report

Nearly 15 years ago, M-PESA launched as one of the world’s first mobile money payment systems – catalysing business growth and banking those otherwise excluded from formal financial institutions. Today more than 700 fintech companies operate across the African continent. Collectively, these fintech companies have created digital payment infrastructures that help businesses and individuals overcome…

Dharma Life facilitates rural India to face challenges of COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact around the globe. The situation in India has been devastating, with the healthcare system close to collapse under the strain of thousands of people requiring medical attention. This devastation has been particularly tough for India’s rural population where shortages in doctors, hospital beds and medical equipment have…

Virtual Learning for Improved Livelihoods: Lessons from Female Micro-Entrepreneurs

“Voice of the Village” a collaboration with Dharma Life, Siriti and the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development. The Voice of the Village is a series of conversations on issues that affect those living in rural communities in India – inviting a wide breadth of stakeholders to collaborate and build solutions together. The fourth event…

Scale and fintech in Africa – some hard questions

Do we know how many African fintech companies have reached scale? Scale is often deemed a yardstick of success by investors, policy makers and practitioners. So it follows that we should be able to answer this question, right? However, this is not as simple as it may seem. There is established knowledge in academia on…