Fintech Pacific · ygap · Mastercard · Australian Government BPP

In Fiji, a BPP partnership is working to develop a cashless payment system that meets the unique needs of women small business owners.

With many visitors to Fiji now preferring to pay by smart phone, or credit and debit card, small businesses that cannot accept digital payments have been missing out on sales. A BPP partnership has been working on a solution to this problem, by developing a locally-led payment app, named 'Dua,' that offers business owners an easily accessible, convenient, simple and secure way to accept these payments, and is designed to meet the needs of women business owners in Fiji

The new technology is currently being piloted by a handful of market vendors, including Bliss Fiji and Marama Niu (pictured), who are now actively accepting card and smartphone payments for their products – including candles, lip sticks, ice creams and coconut products!

Training and onboarding sessions for the pilot were held in late-2022, and generated a lot of excitement among participants, who developed a high level of confidence in the use of the app. The participating entrepreneurs also forged strong relationships, creating a network of supportive Dua Pay merchants who will drive the success of the partnership. The pilot is expected to widen to over 400 women entrepreneurs in the next 2 years

"Empowering women entrepreneurs with digital financial tools can open the door to new customers, new business opportunities, and greater financial independence"

Craig Kirkland, Director, Pacific Islands, Mastercard

"Already, Dua Pay is helping the women in the pilot attract more customers, particularly tourists who are accustomed to cashless payments back home."

Digital wallet and payment acceptance platform for women-led micro and small businesses is a BPP partnership with Fintech Pacific, ygap, Mastercard and the Australian Government to develop and deliver an innovative payments solution for women-led micro and small businesses in Fiji.

Learn more: thebpp.com.au ↗

Mastercard · DFAT Business Partnerships Platform · Fintech Pacific · ygap

Developed in partnership with the Australian Government, ygap and Fintech Pacific, the technology puts women-led MSMEs at the forefront of Fiji's digital transformation

Mastercard and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Business Partnerships Platform (BPP), Fintech Pacific and international development organisation, ygap, are working together to develop and deliver an easy to use, accessible payment acceptance platform for women-led small businesses in Fiji.

The partnership will pilot a digital payment acceptance and saving solution for 400 women-led micro and small businesses in Fiji, and conduct the training required to facilitate adoption. The solution is being built from the ground up, tailored to the specific needs of these businesses.

Fiji's economy has been among the hardest hit globally from the COVID-19 pandemic, with women disproportionately impacted by the economic downturn. Developed by Fintech Pacific, a next generation financial technology provider driving digital transformation to help Fiji, the new app will provide users with an easily accessible digital wallet and a safe and convenient way to accept payments on their mobile device.

Most market stall vendors in Fiji are women, and are typically informal businesses, reliant on daily sales for income, and often only able to accept cash payments. The app will enable MSMEs like these to easily accept card payments from local consumers and international visitors who often prefer to transact using digital payments. This will empower these businesses to increase revenues, strengthen their financial and digital literacy and participate in the global economy.

"Propelled by Fintech Pacific's locally-led and innovative technology, this unique partnership champions better inclusion for women vendors who traditionally face more barriers in business,"

Audrey Jean-Baptiste, Director of Strategy and Operations at ygap

"By addressing the issue at both a micro and macro level, from small businesses into the market, women are empowered to grow their income, increase their financial security, support their families and help their communities. Fiji will now be better equipped to recover from COVID-19's devastating economic impact."

"Mastercard is committed to financial inclusion and ensuring people around the world have access to financial services, delivering a digital economy that works for all. Collectively, those in the partnership have the tools, technology and capabilities to think big and deliver. Together with Mastercard's partners at the Australian Government, ygap and Fintech Pacific, the initiative will show how technology can be harnessed to give people more control, better experiences, new opportunities and wider choices," said Richard Wormald, Division President, Australasia, Mastercard.

The private sector will play an important role in Fiji's economic recovery from COVID-19 and is a vital source of employment and innovation. Mastercard believes in doing well by doing good and has committed to connecting 1 billion people to the digital economy by 2025. As part of these efforts, this partnership will connect women-led small businesses to products, services, technology and financial support that will help drive forward innovation and fuel inclusive, sustained economic recovery across Fiji.

Mastercard will continue to advance equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. It recently pledged $500 million to help close the racial wealth and opportunity gap for Black communities and businesses across America, offering equitable financial tools, investment and partnerships to bring Black women–owned businesses into the digital economy.

More information: mastercardcenter.org ↗

Mastercard · ygap · Fintech Pacific · Australian Government BPP

Developed in partnership with the Australian Government, ygap and Fintech Pacific, the technology puts women-led MSMEs at the forefront of Fiji's digital transformation

Mastercard and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Business Partnerships Platform (BPP), Fintech Pacific and international development organisation, ygap, are working together to develop and deliver an easy to use, accessible payment acceptance platform for women-led small businesses in Fiji.

The partnership will pilot a digital payment acceptance and saving solution for 400 women-led micro and small businesses in Fiji, and conduct the training required to facilitate adoption. The solution is being built from the ground up, tailored to the specific needs of these businesses.

The new app – Dua – is designed to meet the needs of women-led small businesses in Fiji.

It offers business owners an easily accessible, convenient, simple and secure way to accept these payments.

Launched by Mastercard, ygap, an international development organisation, and Fintech Pacific in partnership with the Australian Government's Business Partnerships Platform (BPP), a pilot is now live, with several women-led businesses on board as part of the initial phase.

This new initiative is expected to provide a further boost to Fiji's economic recovery post-COVID-19.

"The new payment solution addresses socio-economic and cultural barriers, creates more opportunity, and increases financial inclusion, sustainability and independence."

Ruth Riviere, Mastercard country manager, New Zealand

"This initiative would not have been possible without Australia's Business Partnerships Platform, which created the opportunity for Mastercard, ygap and Fintech Pacific to combine their unique skills and capabilities to create an enduring solution for a problem, that in the past, seemed very difficult to solve. The project shows the benefits of collaboration between government, industry, and the NGO sector to bring about sustainable and impactful change," Ms Riviere said.

Participating businesses will receive training to facilitate easy use of the new technology, including a step-by-step guide on accepting digital payments.