Around the world, gender inequality limits women-owned businesses’ ability to launch, grow, and thrive. To address these gaps, Mastercard and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have partnered to launch Project Kirana.

Project Kirana will work to increase revenue streams, expand financial inclusion and digital payments adoption of kirana shops that are owned or operated by women. The two-year program will be implemented by DAI and ACCESS Development Services in select cities of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi. The program will focus on: