Grab and Mastercard partner to upskill workers on digital entrepreneurship and cybersecurity

A three-pronged approach is underway, which comprises training programmes and business mentorships that Grab workers and their family members have access to, and by leveraging technology.

Grab and Mastercard have announced a regional partnership to provide Grab’s driver-, delivery-, and small business partners on the platform across Southeast Asia (SEA) access to core digital, financial, and business skills - with a view to help them better manage their finances and businesses, and fully participate in the digital economy.

This will be achieved via a three-pronged approach:

1. Bespoke training programmes for informal workers and small businesses in the Grab Driver and Merchant apps, which will be progressively rolled out across the region from Q4 2021, starting with a few launch markets.
2. Extending Cybersecurity Certification programme, which is part of the Mastercard Academy 2.0 initiative, to Grab’s driver-partners and their family members, and will offer business mentorship access programmes to driver-partners and merchant-partners.
3. Engaging in research and dialogues—spearheaded by Grab’s non-profit think-tank Tech for Good Institute—to work with the public and private sectors to harness technology for good to support the region’s growth and development.

Both organisations hope to elevate digital and financial inclusion in SEA, and offer more pathways and income opportunities for workers. This comes at a good time as according to Tech for Good Institute and Bain's report, it was found that MSMEs need to leverage technology platforms to reach more consumers, as well as grow and maintain their business, especially during the pandemic period.

Commenting on this partnership, Rama Sridhar, Executive VP, Digital & Emerging Partnerships and New Payment Flows, APAC, Mastercard, said: "SEA is at an economic turning point. For growth across much of the region to be truly inclusive, it’s important to proactively ensure that the private sector is helping to upskill people from all walks of life.

Cheryl Goh, Group Head of Marketing and Sustainability, Grab, added that the organisation has benefitted much from the SEA technology ecosystem, as such it wants to do its part to support the development of local talents and businesses—and through this partnership with Mastercard, it would like to offer high-quality training programmes to millions of people and businesses on its platform.

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