The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency that leads international development and humanitarian assistance efforts, and Visa, a digital payments company, are working to improve access to open, secure, and inclusive digital government systems worldwide.
“Digital government systems can help enhance transparency and efficiency between communities and governments, fostering a more favorable environment for entrepreneurs and economic development,” said Chris Newkirk, Visa global head of new flows of commercial and money movement solutions. “Through shared interests and goals, Visa and USAID will empower communities with digital and financial literacy and support access to digital systems that will help drive financial inclusion for everyone, everywhere.”
USAID and Visa will work for five years to develop programs that assist governments with the creation and adoption of foundational digital government systems that will provide constituents with secure access to local government services and digital payments.
The goal is to promote economic development and growth by combining capabilities and expertise in digital payments and digital government systems while providing support for small-and-medium enterprises and constituents.
The focus initially will be on the Caribbean, the Caucasus, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The scope may expand over the course of the joint project.
Christopher Burns, USAID’s Chief Digital Development Officer and Director of USAID’s Technology Division, said, “We look forward to deepening our partnership with Visa, as we jointly work to drive digital financial inclusion for traditionally underserved consumers and strengthen digital public infrastructure across emerging markets.”