Better Than Cash Alliance

The Better Than Cash Alliance was created in September 2012. It was launched by the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United States Agency for International Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citigroup, the Ford Foundation, the Omidyar Network, and Visa Inc.. By the time it launched, the program was already being rolled out in Peru, Kenya, Colombia, and the Philippines.[1][2]

A 2017 study conducted by the Better Than Cash Alliance revealed that Alipay and WeChat Pay processed $2.9 trillion in digital payments in China in 2016.[3]

Based at the UN, the Alliance has over 50 members, works closely with other global organizations, and is an implementing partner for the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.

The Better Than Cash Alliance partners with governments, companies, and international organizations that are the key drivers behind the transition to make digital payments widely available by:

1. Advocating for the transition from cash to digital payments in a way that advances financial inclusion and promotes responsible digital finance.
2. Conducting Research and sharing the experiences of our members to inform strategies for making the transition.
3. Catalyzing the development of inclusive digital payments ecosystems in member countries to reduce costs, increase transparency, advance financial inclusion– particularly for women– and drive inclusive growth.

The Alliance is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Citi, MasterCard, Omidyar Network, USAID, and Visa Inc. The United Nations Capital Development Fund serves as the secretariat.[4]

• Managing director: Ruth Goodwin-Groen

• Official website