Digicel Fiji and SPBD partnership to boost women’s access to financial services

Access to formal financial services in many remote areas of Fiji will now be easier after Digicel Fiji and SPBD Microfinance Fiji collaborated to deliver SPBD’s critical services through the MyCash mobile money platform.

The collaboration marks a significant step towards bridging the financial inclusion gap for hundreds of thousands of rural village women business owners across Fiji.

Digicel Fiji says SPBD customers can now benefit from Digicel’s extensive network and the secure, convenient features of MyCash, helping to address limited access to formal financial services in many rural communities.

The company says the partnership focuses on transforming how SPBD customers manage their microloans, as they will now be able to receive their microloans directly into their MyCash wallet, eliminating the need to travel long distances to collect their funds.

SPBD customers will also be able to easily repay loans, transfer money, and manage their finances using the MyCash app.

In addition, Digicel Fiji and SPBD will provide digital training and support to enhance the financial capability and technological expertise of SPBD’s female entrepreneurs.

Digicel Fiji CEO, Farid Mohammed, says this collaboration is a strong reflection of Digicel’s vision for empowering digital financial inclusion.

He says MyCash and SPBD’s prize-winning microfinance model are delivering financial tools into the hands of women who are anchors in their villages and owners of small businesses.

Mohammed says it’s not merely about transactions but about enabling growth and resilience in Fiji’s most remote communities.

SPBD Microfinance Founder and CEO, Gregory Casagrande, says their goal is to empower Fijian women to establish, expand, and sustain their own small enterprises.

He says collaborating with Digicel Fiji and using the MyCash platform enables them to streamline services, making them more convenient and accessible to women in rural villages.

Casagrande says this digital transition saves members time and money, freeing them up to put more energy into their businesses and families.

He adds it is a game-changer for financial empowerment.

Casagrande says that in line with Micro-Merchant Enablement, Digicel Fiji is equipping SPBD members with QR Pay solutions, co-branded collateral, and stands, while waiving transaction fees.

He says this initiative allows members to be formally recognised as micro-merchants and transact using their own QR codes, just like established grocery shops, further boosting their visibility and business potential.

The collaboration goes beyond loan offerings, reinforcing both organisations’ commitment to long-term community development. Digicel Fiji’s network enables SPBD to reach remote communities, broadening access for women who were previously difficult to reach. Initiatives include deploying MyCash QR Pay solutions and small vendor fee waivers, promoting SPBD members’ digital payment acceptance as their businesses grow.