How MasterCard Aims to Transform Aid Distribution

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Humanitarian organizations are increasingly asked to provide aid in a climate of political and economic unrest.

To address this challenge, MasterCard today launched the MasterCard Aid Network, an end-to-end, non-financial service designed to streamline aid distribution even in the absence of telecommunications infrastructure. Now, impacted populations can secure basic needs swiftly with the simple dip of a card.

“With MasterCard Aid Network, we are transforming the way NGOs and other aid agencies can deliver support to people in need,” said Walt Macnee, vice chairman of MasterCard. “We spent the past two years working with humanitarian organizations to develop a solution that works for everyone involved – populations in need, aid organizations, local merchants and donors.”

The network has been tested and proven in real-life situations — with Save the Children in Yemen, where approximately 41 percent of the population are unable to meet their basic food needs as a result from civil unrest and war, and in the Philippines with World Vision to help microentrepreneurs rebuild businesses after Typhoon Haiyan. In both countries, MasterCard Aid Network delivered greater efficiency and transparency beyond the cumbersome traditional paper voucher model.

“MasterCard Aid Network unequivocally holds great potential for helping children and families around the world,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children. “And, since the system is a non-financial system that does not need connectivity to process transactions, it was easy to deploy, helping to reduce risk to our staff.”

 

Source: Press Release (link opens in a new window)

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philanthropy