Better Than Cash Alliance 347d ago

We are the Better Than Cash Alliance, a United Nations-based partnership of over eighty members - governments, companies, and international organizations- committed to responsible digital payments to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. When provided responsibly, digital payments can be swifter, safer, more transparent, and more private than cash. 1.4 billion people worldwide are still financially excluded. This is especially true for women, who make up a disproportionate percentage of workers in the informal sector. Alliance members have committed to digitizing payments responsibly to boost efficiency, transparency and increase financial equality for women. Responsible payment digitization and digital financial inclusion can contribute to achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the Alliance Secretariat worked with the Bangladesh government and companies on digitizing wages and opening accounts for 2 million garment workers, predominantly women, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers increased their savings and their ability to meet unexpected expenses, such as family emergencies. We work with members on their digitization journey by: • Providing advisory services based on their priorities. • Fostering peer learning and bilateral cooperation. • Conducting advocacy at global, regional, and national levels. Our objective is to make every adult in the world have access to safe, reliable, and accessible digital payments. We have launched initiatives with members in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on responsible digitization of payments. The Alliance Secretariat is an implementing partner of the G20 and works with the African Union, The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, and Smart Africa on driving responsible digital financial inclusion for everyone. We developed the UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments to build trust, mitigate risks, and drive inclusive economies. Since the Alliance was founded in 2012, member countries have made great progress, including: • Ethiopia, where 40 million mobile money accounts were active by the end of 2022. • Colombia, where the COVID emergency scheme Ingreso Solidario reached 4 million people, one million of them newly financially included. • India, where over one billion people have access to digital payments, as 99 percent of adults now have a biometric identification number. Additionally, the Universal Payment Interface (UPI) keeps breaking record numbers of transactions each month. Learn how to take action and be part of the movement to promote responsible digital payments. Visit our website and social media channels for more information about our work with members and partners. https://www.betterthancash.org/