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Mastercard and Accion: Partnering for inclusive growth

In November 2018, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Accion launched a first-of-its-kind partnership, with the aim of digitally transforming the lives of millions of underserved people and micro and small businesses.

What we accomplished

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12.8 million

People

Reached throughout the project, as of Q4 2022

5.6 million

Micro and small businesses

Using digital tools on a regular basis, as of Q4 2022

4X

Active digital users

Our partners more than quadrupled their number of monthly active digital users since joining the program

80%

Users with increased financial health

Product users interviewed who perceived an increase in their capacity to manage financial challenges

70%

Women

Active digital users were women, as of Q2 2022

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Transforming the lives of millions of underserved people with digital tools

Digital transformation stories

Video

How Diana digitally transformed her business during the pandemic

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Video

Harnessing the power of digital innovation in Bolivia

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Video

Empowering women entrepreneurs through digital financial tools

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Video

Small businesses embrace digital tools during COVID-19

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Video

Transforming the lives of millions of underserved people with digital tools

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Project insights

The impact of digital transformation on underserved microbusinesses: Findings from Accion’s partnership with Mastercard

Six key learnings

Using digital products can build financial health

Across five countries, nearly 80 percent of MAP digital product users reported that product usage contributed to an increase in their capacity to manage financial health challenges.
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Digital products can empower women

Globally, women-owned micro and small businesses that were MAP digital product users reported improvements in their financial health in the past year, and more than 70 percent reported that the products contributed to these improvements.
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Digital products can unlock growth

Thirty percent of micro and small businesses said they were able to undertake more business growth activities, and 61 percent said this growth came through usage of MAP products.
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Frequent users can see more business value

Those who used MAP digital products more frequently were 30 percent more likely than infrequent users to link improvements in business growth outcomes to these products.
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Digital payments are in demand

As micro and small businesses interacted with digital loan repayment mechanisms introduced through the partnership, 67 percent indicated broader demand for digital payments.
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Human touch is still needed

Despite an increase in digital usage, fear and distrust of information found online is still high amongst micro and small business owners, highlighting that a certain level of human touch remains important.
Full report

Read more

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