Mastercard and Bizzoly Holdings announce strategic collaboration to drive financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs in Africa
December 9, 2024 | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
- The collaboration will leverage Mastercard's education platform aimed at equipping women with necessary skills to succeed
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; 9 December 2024 – Mastercard announces a collaboration with Bizzoly Holdings, a provider of financial services and mobility solutions in Africa, aimed at driving financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by introducing new payment services and innovative cards solutions.
According to the United Nations, the annual deficit in funding for gender-equality measures stands at USD 360 billion over 48 developing economies. This shortfall highlights the urgent need for targeted investments and initiatives to close the gender gap.
The collaboration aims to include more women in the formal banking system through the introduction of a card program aimed at addressing their needs, streamlining transactions and enhancing security. By bringing more women into the formal banking system, this collaboration aims to empower them with the financial tools they need to establish and grow their businesses. In addition, it will aim to deliver financial literacy and business management trainings via workshops and Mastercard’s educational platform ‘The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’ to equip women with the necessary skills to succeed.
"At Mastercard, we aim to support SMEs and empower women entrepreneurs across Africa with the tools and opportunities to excel in the digital economy. This collaboration with Bizzoly Holdings is a crucial step toward bridging the financial inclusion gap and ensuring that more women can fully engage in the economic landscape. Together, we aim to drive meaningful progress and foster a more inclusive financial environment," said Mohamed Benomar, Country General Manager, North West Africa, Mastercard.
"Bizzoly Holdings is excited to collaborate with Mastercard on this vital initiative. By leveraging technology and innovative financial solutions, we can make a real difference in the lives of women entrepreneurs across the continent," said Dr. Patricia Nzolantima, CEO, Bizzoly Holdings.
Bizzoly Holdings is dedicated to empowering businesses and women through innovative and accessible financial products. With the procurement of prepaid cards, microloans, and vehicle financing, Bizzoly has transformed many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The collaboration with Mastercard will further expand Bizzoly’s reach by providing tailored financial tools that aim to help women entrepreneurs streamline transactions, enhance security, and scale their business.
About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.