This archive report was first published on 3 May 2021.
On May 3, 2021, Mastercard announced an investment in Kasha Global Incorporated, a purpose-driven eCommerce platform, to expand its relationship and support women's empowerment across Africa.
The partnership aims to ensure women across emerging markets have essential access to health and personal care products, along with the information required to support everyday hygiene needs.
Kasha's platform combines online and offline capabilities, allowing women to make confidential personal care orders using basic mobile handsets or by searching and ordering products online.
“Through our activities with Kasha, we are leveraging Mastercard’s innovations, expertise, and partnerships to help drive the empowerment of women and small businesses,” said Raghav Prasad, Mastercard’s Sub Saharan Africa Division President.
Mastercard’s investment is the next step in a journey the organizations have been on since Kasha joined Mastercard StartPath in 2019. Since then, Mastercard has worked with Kasha to integrate digital payment acceptance across its eCommerce platform and deliver essential products to families across Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kasha’s goal is to ensure women in emerging markets get the products, information, and services they need for their health, self-care, and well-being,” said Joanna Bichsel, Kasha’s Founder and CEO.
Mastercard’s activities with Kasha directly support the company’s pledge to bring 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025, with a focus on providing 25 million women entrepreneurs with solutions to help them grow their business.
