The Better Than Cash Alliance is a partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Empowering People One Transaction at a Time: Leading Corporations, Foundations and Development Organizations Form “Better Than Cash Alliance” to Accelerate Global Shift to Electronic Payments
In wealthy countries, most people conduct their financial activity in digital form; money and value is stored virtually and transferred instantaneously with a touch of a button, and the system provides an easy access to a wide-range of financial services. In contrast, most poor households operate almost entirely in the informal economy, using cash, physical assets (e.g. jewelry and livestock), or informal institutions to meet their financial needs.
VISA JOINS GLOBAL LEADERS IN NEW PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS AND IMPROVE LIVES By: Doug Michelman Today, Visa joins with six partners from government, the private sector and the international development community to launch the Better Than Cash Alliance. Working together with our other founding members – the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the U.S.
Government of Afghanistan Joins Better Than Cash Alliance — Pledges to Address Poverty and Grow Economy by Shifting to Electronic Payments
At ACDI/VOCA we see firsthand how technological innovations are revolutionizing approaches to global economic development. This is particularly true for electronic payments. Around 2.5 billion people around the world are “unbanked.” Without access to financial services, they can’t save for the future, build assets or get credit. For those who do have access, the services are often rudimentary and inefficient. Electronic payments open doors and create lasting benefits for this underserved population by providing access to robust, modern financial services.
The World Bank and the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) recently hosted the Third Meeting of the CPSS – World Bank Retail Payments Forum in Perugia, Italy.
Kenya is moving towards emerging market status and the government’s focused strategy of creating an electronic payments economy is contributing to its growth. During a reception hosted by the Better Than Cash Alliance at the World Bank / IMF Spring Meetings, Better Than Cash Alliance Managing Director Dr. Ruth Goodwin-Groen asked Kenya’s Dr. Geoffrey Mwau, Economic Secretary, Ministry of Finance how they did it and what advice he would give to other governments.
Pledges to Improve Access to Finance and Markets for the Poor by Supporting Shift to Electronic Payments
Eighteen-year-old Djélika Haïdara was pregnant when she fled her home in northern Mali to escape the violent aftermath of a military coup. She and her extended family were among more than 227,000 people displaced within Mali. Djélika and her baby now live in Bamako, the nation’s capital, in a rented apartment with 20 other family members.
In looking at ways to bring financial services to the more than two billion people outside formal financial systems, often the focus has been on piecemeal efforts to improve specific elements such as product design, pricing, delivery, banking regulation, or consumer protection.
Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion Key to Poverty Alleviation and Economic Growth, say World Leaders
As part of its massive humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is rolling out an innovative electronic voucher programme in Lebanon that will allow hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees to meet their food needs and help boost the local economy.
His Excellency Jose L. Cuisia Jr., Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America, and Mr. Paolo Eugenio Baltao, President, G-Xchange (a subsidiary of Globe Telecom, one of the leading telecommunications services providers in the Philippines), discussed the merits of public-private partnerships to enhance access to financial services during an event on Partnerships for Digital Financial Inclusion – A Driver for Inclusive Growth co-hosted by the Better Than Cash Alliance, UNCDF and UNDP on September 24, 2013, during the 68th United Nations General Assembly Week. The following post is a summary of their discussion.
World Economic Forum recognises electronic payments as a driver for financial inclusion
As part of its commitments to enhance food security, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has introduced mobile phone facilitated cash transfers to feed the 14,500 refugees in Gihembe refugee camp in northern Rwanda.
On April 15-16, 2014 the Better Than Cash Alliance presented at the First High Level Meeting for Effective Development Cooperation in Mexico City, Mexico. The meeting was organized by the Mexican government with support of the OECD and UNDP. Tidhar Wald, Government and Corporate Relations Specialist shares insights from the event.
One Million Low-Income People to Reap Benefits of Digital Money
A Q&A with Dr. Ruth Goodwin-Groen on the Better Than Cash Alliance’s Important New Role
