Digicel Fiji and SPBD Microfinance Fiji, a microfinance institution focused on rural village women, announced on Monday they will collaborate to deliver SPBD's services to customers through Digicel’s MyCash mobile money platform.

Under the agreement, SPBD members will be able to receive their microloans directly to their MyCash wallet, eliminating the inconvenience of needing to travel long distances to pick up the money. They’ll also be able to use the MyCash app to repay loans, transfer money, and manage finances.

Digicel Fiji will also equip SPBD members with QR Pay solutions, including co-branded collateral and stands, with transaction fees waived. This will allow members to be formally recognised as micro-merchants and transact using their own QR codes, similar to established grocery shops, further boosting their visibility and business potential, said SPBD Microfinance founder and CEO Gregory Casagrande.

“Our goal is to empower Fijian women to establish, expand, and sustain their own small enterprises. Collaborating with Digicel Fiji and using the MyCash platform enables us to streamline our services to be more convenient and accessible to those in rural villages,” Casagrande said in a statement. “This digital transition saves our members time and money, freeing them up to put more energy into their businesses and families.”

Digicel Fiji CEO, Farid Mohammed added that the combination of MyCash and SPBD's microfinance model “are together delivering financial instruments into the hands of women who are anchors in their villages and owners of small businesses. It's not merely about transactions, it's about enabling growth and resilience in Fiji's most remote communities.”

As part of the collaboration, Digicel Fiji and SPBD will also provide digital training and support for SPBD's female entrepreneurs to enhance their financial capability and technological expertise.