Asia pacific

Within Reach: How Digital Wages That Work for Women Can Support Bangladesh’s Economic Future

HERproject’s research charts progress towards wage digitization in Bangladesh; three plausible alternative futures to what wage digitization may look like ten years from now; and recommendations to strengthen digital payment systems that empower workers.

The platform economy: Southeast Asia’s digital growth catalyst

This inaugural study from the Tech for Good Institute presents data-based insights and public-private perspectives on how to support the platform economy’s growth in Southeast Asia while mitigating its risks.

Data privacy should not be compromised in using fintech: FM

Finance Minister highlights exponential growth in digital payments

$18 billion merchant retail digitization opportunity in India's North East region

New Report “Catalyzing Responsible Digital Payments in India’s North East Region” by UN based Better Than Cash Alliance

Catalyzing Responsible Digital Payments in the North East Region of India

Taking stock of the digital payments ecosystem with a 7-point action plan to expand the merchant acceptance network

Responsible Digitization of Women Merchants in Rural India for COVID-19 Recovery

10 recommendations from civil society to unlock the impact of fintech in merchant digitization and further India’s progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

State of Digital Payments in the Philippines - Highlights Report (2021 edition)

This highlights report captures the progress of payments digitalization in the country in 2019 and the first half of 2020.

India Digital Payments Learning Exchange Series

Better Than Cash Alliance organized a peer exchange learning series to highlight the central and state government initiatives and facilitate peer learning to accelerate service delivery and digital financial inclusion.

IFC: Women and e-commerce in Southeast Asia

This report from IFC, the 1st large-scale use of platform data in the region, shows that growth could be higher with greater investment in women entrepreneurs.

Philippine Central Banker Targets Street Stalls in E-Money Push

Government of India, FICCI, and UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance come together for responsible merchant digitization in the North East, Himalayan Regions and Aspirational Districts

Fintechs challenged by PHL attachment to cash

COVID-19: Making the case for robust digital financial infrastructure

In this report, the relationship between financial infrastructure and the performance of disbursement programs in their design ambition and how well they delivered is assessed.

India and UN-Based Better Than Cash Alliance organized a joint Peer learning exchange on fintech solutions for responsible digital payments at the last mile

Learning to Navigate a New Financial Technology: Evidence from Payroll Accounts

This working paper finds that the introduction of payroll accounts among largely unbanked factory workers in Bangladesh led to increased account use and consumer learning.

The next frontier in Asia payments

Despite the near-term disruption to revenue growth related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Asia’s payments sector remains positioned for long-term success and is poised for a swift return to healthy growth.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The Impact of Mobile Money on Poverty Toolkit

Mobile money accounts have spread widely in select regions of the developing world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This Research Brief focuses on the individual and household impacts of mobile money.

Tax Digitalization in Indonesia: Success Factors and Pathways Forward

This paper sets out pathways forward to help realize the full potential of digitalization, with specific and practical recommendations.

Accelerating winds of change in global payments

The COVID-19 crisis is having a significant and widespread effect on global payments across sectors. The most striking and potentially lasting impact is an accelerating pace of change in the industry.