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The Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth on Monday announced a new collaboration with commerce platform ShopUp, also supported by the Gates Foundation, to equip women small business owners in Bangladesh with the digital skills and tools.

This partnership is part of the global Mastercard Strive initiative that aims to support small businesses in their digital adoption and up, aid a press release.

The programme, ‘Porshi’, aims to upskill 1,600 small business owners and deliver support to unlock access to a wider range of fast-moving  consumer goods, enabling about 40 per cent of the small business owners to consistently use ShopUp’s app for last-mile delivery.

‘Small businesses have a key role in creating strong and healthy communities,’ says Subhashini Chandran, senior vice-president, Social Impact, Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth.

While only 7.2 per cent  registered MSMEs are led by women — mostly micro in size — many more operate informally, and contribute significantly to the economy by providing goods, services, and employment, particularly for other women.

‘Mastercard recognises the economic potential and ripple effect of supporting the growth of women-led small businesses in Bangladesh,’ says Syed Mohammad Kamal, country manager, Bangladesh, Mastercard.

‘Closing gender gaps in market access and digital use is essential for inclusive growth. When women can fully participate, entire communities and economies are better off,’ says Amy Pennington, senior program officer, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gates Foundation

‘Porshi is more than just a programme — it is a movement to transform the way rural women engage in commerce,’ says Mamun Rashid, president, ShopUp.

Shahina, a business owner in Rangpur, said, ‘When the Porshi team told me, ‘You can do it,’ I chose to believe them — and in just one month, I earned Tk 6,000. Today, I run my own shop, and for the first time, I’m moving forward without looking back.’