&frnds

Area of Focus:

Future of Work

Geography:

Philippines

&frnds is a B2B e-commerce platform with embedded finance options for last mile value chains in emerging markets.

Micro-retailers in low- and middle-income countries provide livelihoods and access to daily supplies to a significant portion of the population. However, a lack of access to finance means that businesses can struggle to grow sales. This is a challenge particularly for female-run businesses who often have the least access to resources and are more risk averse due to the need to support their families.

&frnds worked with TRANSFORM on the expansion of its micro-retailer finance scheme for women-run Sari-Sari stores in the Philippines.

The project enabled the creation of a new solution designed specifically for women, improving their access to finance through responsible and appropriate lending. It also provided training and support in accessing and utilising this unique form of micro-credit to help grow their businesses.

The new system increased the uptake of new ‘untested’ products with the goal of assisting micro-retailers to diversify their product offering to last-mile customers and ultimately, increase their revenues and grow their businesses.