Digital payments

Expanding Opportunities for Egypt’s Women- and Youth-Led MSMEs Through Digital Trade

A new collaboration between the Better Than Cash Alliance (the Alliance), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), and partners such as the African Union Women, Gender and Youth Directorate and AUDA-NEPAD is working to address persistent gaps in digital trade and financial inclusion.

Transforming Ethiopia’s Health Sector: Digitizing Payments for Improved Access and Efficiency

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health launched a nationwide Digital Health Payment Initiative in August 2024, aiming to revolutionize healthcare payments by making them more efficient, transparent, and inclusive through digital financial services.

Maximising consumer voices in digital financial services policy-making

This report highlights strategies for advocating fair, safe, and sustainable DFS, addressing issues like resource constraints and the need for technical expertise.

Interoperability Between Central Bank Digital Currency Systems and Fast Payment Systems: A Technical Perspective

This report delves into the interoperability between central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and fast payment systems (FPS).

2024 Newsletter

Reflecting on digital payments for development, inclusion and transformation in 2024

G20 Brazil Policy Options for Bridging the Last Mile

The Better Than Cash Alliance released the G20 Policy Options to Improve Last Mile Access, offering actionable public policy recommendations to tackle systemic barriers to financial inclusion.

Responsible Digital Payments for All

UNDP Welcomes Better Than Cash Alliance and Introduces New Alliance Managing Director

Strategic Partnership to Enhance Financial Inclusion and Digital Payment Solutions

UNDP welcomes the Better Than Cash Alliance to accelerate financial inclusion through responsible digital payments

The Better Than Cash Alliance has transitioned from UNCDF to join UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub

Call to Action: Health for All through Responsible Digital Payments

Despite global technological advancements, healthcare costs continue to push millions into extreme poverty every year. …

Accelerating digital payments through whole-of-government approach

The Trust Quotient: An ASEAN Policy Toolkit for Unlocking Responsible Digital Payments for Micro-Merchants

Real-world experiences from micro-merchants across ASEAN that highlight the factors that build or erode trust in DFS.

Digital payments, informality and economic growth

This paper finds that as digital payments increase, economic growth improves. Specifically, a 1% rise in digital payment usage leads to a 0.10% increase in GDP per capita growth over two years.

Our Work on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

DPI, encompassing digital payments, identification, and data exchange, can significantly accelerate financial inclusion and economic growth. By enabling secure, scalable, and interoperable systems, DPI reduces costs, enhances security, and expands access to underserved populations.

Global engagement in scaling instant payments: insights, strategies, and trust building

Over the past few months, the Alliance facilitated a series of peer exchanges, bringing together the architects of some of the world’s most dynamic digital payment platforms—systems that process billions of transactions monthly, such as India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Brazil’s rapidly evolving PIX.

From Lagos to Abidjan: 1,000km of entrepreneurial energy in need of better digital payments

Empowering Every Ability: Egypt's Pioneering Journey Towards Financial Inclusion

Central Bank of Egypt advances financial inclusion for persons with disabilities through targeted regulations, accessible services, and collaborative initiative

Our work in Bangladesh

Learn how the Alliance is advocating for inclusive digital payments for resilience and growth in Bangladesh.

Opinion: Africa’s women and youth hold the key to unlocking One African Market