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The Better Than Cash Alliance is a partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations established to scale financial inclusion by transitioning economies from cash to responsible digital payments. The Alliance is hosted by the Sustainable Finance Hub, a finance and innovation platform that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support mobilizing and leveraging resources for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
80
Alliance members
75%
Alliance advisory focusing on women
57
Policy and regulatory changes since 2019
1.4B
Adults still financially excluded
Digital payments contribute to building a strong foundation for the Sustainable Development Goals. When digital payments are swifter, safer, more transparent, and more private than cash, they enable access to vital growth opportunities like energy, water, and credit.
The world is rapidly moving towards digital payments: the COVID-19 pandemic tripled digital transactions from governments to citizens. Technological advances, such as artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technology, are transforming the digital payments landscape. In this context, it’s crucial that digital payments are responsible.
A concerted effort to scale up responsible digital payments will unleash everyone’s potential – especially women’s – enabling impact, scale, and sustainability.
The world is undergoing fast digital transformation, which some have referred to as the fourth industrial revolution. Numerous economies and private enterprises have embarked on their digital transformation journeys. Ethiopia is set to follow suit. Payments are an essential enabler for this transformation and as technology enables faster and seamless transfer of data (and money) in the modern age, a robust and responsible digital payments ecosystem becomes compulsory.
Under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is democratizing financial services and accelerating the deployment of digital public good infrastructure that promotes financial inclusion and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments have come at just the right time and will serve as an important resource to all stakeholders.
Unilever has committed to help create income opportunities and uplift the quality of life for 5 million small and medium-sized enterprises across our retail value chain, through skills training and facilitating access to finance and technology. It’s a win for society, and our business. The revised UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments are a critical enabler to achieving this and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Digital finance is on the march, and the COVID-19 pandemic has now accelerated the move from physical to virtual banking. As the world moves from cash to digital payments, all stakeholders must support responsible practices to help build a digital future that treats everyone fairly – especially women – while driving down poverty and spurring inclusive economic growth.
Acknowledging gender-based differences in access and use of financial products and services helps prevent discrimination against women and foster their empowerment. We will continue driving an increasingly inclusive financial system, in order to boost well-being and social mobility in our country.
