Empowering Women Tech Entrepreneurs in Georgia Unleashes Innovation

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Women in Georgia’s technology sector face the same market challenges as men in launching startups but must also contend with preconceived notions of “acceptable” women’s work, and these biases can impact access to funding, mentorship, and networking.
  • The World Bank has helped the country address this gap by providing training and mentorship opportunities to thousands of entrepreneurs, over half of them women.
  • GENIE Program graduates—like Nato Toronjadze, founder and CEO of Bizon, and Ana Robakidze, founder and CEO of Theneo—despite the challenges, have turned their innovative ideas into successful ventures that are creating jobs and boosting growth.

Continue reading

Digital Opportunities in African Businesses

Tapping Tech to the Full

How much do African firms use digital technology, for what purposes, and how can they be encouraged to use it more? While advances have been made in digitalizing Africa, with mobile payments a success story, firms still face challenges like higher costs of technology. Much more can be done to enable and empower them to reap its full potential, IFC research shows. A new book, Digital Opportunities in African Businesses, outlines the steps to be taken—from investing in digital infrastructure to funding tech startups offering user-friendly, affordable digital solutions. More than 600,000 formally registered firms and 40 million microbusinesses—about 20 percent of businesses in Africa—are potentially ready to benefit from digital upgrades.

Success Story: Development Finance International Inc. (DFI)

Bridging Business and Development with Netherlands’ Partners

Among DFI’s proudest accomplishments are our long-term partnerships with Dutchdfintl_newblue organizations to address development needs and support sustainable business in emerging markets globally. 

Since DFI’s inception 30 years ago, and continuing through this day, DFI has worked closely with several Dutch corporate clients, The Netherlands Embassy in Washington, DC (and around the globe) and international funders such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and other public, private and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to tackle the most pressing challenges in critical areas including food security and sustainability, healthcare, climate change, and science and technology, among others.  

Continue reading

Weekly Recap

Over the past three months, the World Bank Group has mounted the fastest crisis response in its history. We are now financing emergency operations in over 100 countries – home to 70% of the global population.

In this virtual interview, David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, discussed the path ahead for developing countries. What will a robust and resilient recovery look like? How can we promote economic growth, support the poorest, and sustain businesses and jobs? Watch the replay.

Continue reading