Mastercard’s Community Pass is gearing up for a significant expansion, attributing its success to strategic partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders. Originally launched in Uganda and gaining rapid momentum, Community Pass is seen as a model for addressing challenges associated with global digital inclusion.
At the recent Community Pass Customer Summit in Kampala, Mastercard emphasized the importance of partnerships and collaborative efforts in overcoming hurdles on the path to comprehensive digital inclusion. Tara Nathan, EVP and Founder of Mastercard Community Pass, described Community Pass not just as a digital platform but also as a catalyst for change, bridging the gap between underserved communities and essential services.
The platform, praised for its success in Uganda, brings together public and private sector partners to create a shared and suitable ecosystem. It provides digital infrastructure to marginalized communities, addressing challenges such as last-mile delivery, credit access, and the establishment of digital market systems.
The summit, attended by over 90 partners, unveiled key initiatives and collaborations, showcasing the platform’s commitment to tangible progress. One notable partnership introduced is with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions in India, leading to the launch of the Yojana card—a tool for financial inclusion, streamlining access to essential services in regions with historically limited connectivity.
Another significant collaboration involves Shell Foundation and Co-operative Bank of Kenya, providing below-market interest rates to smallholder farmers for green technology. This initiative aligns with Mastercard’s dedication to creating tailored solutions addressing the specific needs of communities, fostering sustainability in agriculture, and promoting financial inclusion.
Gerald Begumisa, Managing Director of Yo! Uganda, highlighted their ongoing partnership with Mastercard’s Community Pass, reaching 1.2 million smallholder farmers in Uganda. Equity Bank of Uganda’s financial inclusion card, revealed during the summit, showcases how partnerships with financial institutions can bring banking services to marginalized communities.
Daniel Huba, Vice President, Community Pass Market Development, Sub-Saharan Africa at Mastercard, emphasized the platform’s significance on the continent, stating, “Community Pass goes beyond connectivity; it’s about fostering sustainable economic opportunities and welcoming digitally excluded individuals into the formal digital economy.”
Community Pass is a shared digital platform offering a sustainable approach to scaling service delivery and increasing access to critical services such as agriculture, healthcare, and micro-commerce. With nearly 5 million users globally, Community Pass enables rural and marginalized communities lacking digitized data records and connectivity to access a network of offline services.
Tara Nathan highlighted that the success of Community Pass underscores the effectiveness of partnerships in driving digital inclusion, setting a precedent for scalable and sustainable solutions that empower underserved communities.
