The grant will support the Empowering Microfinance and Enterprises for Resilience and Growth (EMERGe) Project and will be provided directly to the Aga Khan Foundation USA.

Please apply for the awards and be recognized amongst the global peer group of world leaders in SME finance and services.

Visa Foundation partners with local organizations to invest in primarily women-owned small- and micro-businesses, creating ripple effects for the entrepreneurs and their employees, and the customers and communities they serve.

Through the partnership, the two entities will provide small businesses in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt with an online platform, powered by SAVA’s Payment Transaction System, that includes digital bank accounts and accounting integration tools.

The newly established Secured Transactions Registry aims to facilitate the use of moveable assets as collateral for loans while ensuring financial stability and fostering economic growth in Sri Lanka.

PayPal is introducing a new offering that will enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to accept a wider range of payments online.

By addressing the need for improved access to financial services and support for MSMEs in agriculture, the project aims to contribute to the creation of jobs and the sustainable and inclusive economic development of the sector.

This impactful collaboration will promote financial inclusion by addressing the specific needs of female customers in the banking sector through in-depth market research, a robust Customer Value Proposition, and strategic linkages with Sri Lankan women and women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises.

The recent announcement of joint efforts by Microsoft to build new financial services for businesses hints at a multipronged effort to boost financial inclusion, including financial inclusion for smaller businesses, leveraging the M-Pesa platform.

The investment will directly support IFC priorities in Paraguay, fostering private investment and competition; encouraging economic formalization through financial resources for local businesses; and directing capital toward solutions that drive gender equality.