📋 Tender Overview
Mastercard and Rabobank announced a strategic partnership to give one million farmers in emerging markets access to a digital platform that makes it easier for them to sell their produce for a fair price. The platform builds on the current Mastercard Farmer Network and will be enriched by Rabobanks expertise and reach in the food and agricultural sectors across Europe Africa and Asia.The partnership was formally initiated at a signing ceremony during the advisors meeting of the CEO Partnership for Economic Inclusion earlier this year in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Mxima of the Netherlands in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development UNSGSA.Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in her capacity as UN Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development left witnessed Arjan Bol Country Manager of Mastercard Netherlands middle and Wiebe Draijer CEO of Rabobank right signing a strategic partnership to increase financial inclusion across the agriculture value chain in emerging markets in April this year during the CEOP advisors meeting at Rabobank in UtrechtUnder the partnership Mastercard and Rabobank will extend the reach and impact of the Mastercard Farmer Network across Uganda Tanzania Kenya Ghana Egypt and India. Many smallholder farmers in these countries have limited access to market information finance and management skills. This has led to insecurity inefficiencies a waste of resources and ultimately prevents farmers from running a sustainable business.Since its launch in 2015 the Mastercard Farmer Network has reached more than 250000 farmers in Uganda Tanzania and India. Through the platform small-scale farmers connect with potential buyers access mobile payment tools and build a digital transaction record that can be used to access formal credit from a financial institution. This solution is part of Mastercards strategy to connect underserved communities to essential services through a common digital infrastructure.At Mastercard we envision a world in which economic growth is truly inclusive said Arjan Bol Netherlands country manager for Mastercard. Mastercard Farmer Network contributes to this by offering a digital platform that makes it safer and simpler for small-holder farmers to grow their business. Through close collaborations with important partners as Rabobank we are able to create even more impact putting the digital economy to work for everyone everywhere.The announcement comes as Ajay Banga president and CEO of Mastercard joins world and business leaders in celebrating Queen Mximas 10-year anniversary as the UNSGSA at the United Nations General Assemblys special side event Financial Inclusion for Development Building on 10 Years of Progress in New York. The Special Advocate who convened the CEO Partnership for Economic Inclusion aims to unlock development opportunities and economic inclusion for all. Her support of private sector companies helped to provide the platform for the strategic partnership between Mastercard and Rabobank.We believe that sustainable partnerships in the food and agri value chain are key to guaranteeing food security in the future said Wiebe Draijer CEO Rabobank. This partnership creates a unique opportunity to expand access to the formal economy and financial services for hundreds of thousands of farmers. By joining forces with Mastercard we address both of our goals to increase financial inclusion in the agri-sector while also contributing significantly to Rabobanks Banking for Food strategy.
