Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3 September 2026: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and Visa have announced a new partnership to strengthen financial inclusion and economic empowerment among women and youth in estate communities, beginning with a pilot initiative in Hope Estate, Hewaheta in Nuwara Eliya.

To mark the partnership, a signing ceremony took place between Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka and Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Visa, along with representatives from both UNDP and Visa present at the event. 

The initiative will support 50 young agri-producers, most of whom are women, to enhance their financial literacy, improve access to formal financial services, and build practical skills to participate in digital financial systems. It is designed to bridge the critical gap between access to banking services and their effective use, enabling beneficiaries to transition from cash-based practices to more secure and inclusive financial management.
Hope Estate is part of the plantation region in Sri Lanka where economic opportunities, particularly for women, have traditionally been limited to wage-based labour. Through this partnership, UNDP and Visa aim to shift this paradigm by linking financial inclusion directly to emerging livelihood opportunities such as polytunnel cultivation and backyard farming.

Building on UNDP’s ongoing work to promote climate-smart and diversified rural livelihoods, the initiative will deliver integrated training on financial literacy, digital payments, and good agricultural practices. Participants will also receive hands-on support to open and actively use bank accounts, alongside improved access to digital tools and systems that enable secure and efficient transactions.

Commenting on the initiative, Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “Economic empowerment begins with financial inclusion, but it does not end there. Through this partnership with Visa, we are opening new doors for women and young people in estate communities to move from the margins of the economy to the center of opportunity. By combining financial literacy with real pathways to income generation, we are not only expanding access to financial services, but we are unlocking potential, fostering entrepreneurship, and building the foundations for resilient, diversified livelihoods. Together, we are helping shape a future where every woman, regardless of where she is born, has the tools, confidence, and opportunity to participate fully, and benefit from economic growth.”

The initiative will further pilot the gradual digitization of income and payment flows within local agricultural value chains, helping reduce reliance on cash while strengthening transparency, confidence, and trust in formal financial systems.

Highlighting Visa’s global commitment to connecting more people to the digital economy, Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager, Visa Sri Lanka and Maldives, noted, "At Visa, we believe that financial inclusion is the true foundation of economic opportunity. Our partnership with UNDP Sri Lanka reflects our commitment to building inclusive digital ecosystems that empower women and youth in underserved communities to participate fully in the formal economy. By combining financial literacy with access to digital payment tools, we are helping to create pathways from informal, cash-based systems to secure, transparent financial participation, and building secure, sustainable livelihoods." 

The initiative will be implemented over a seven-month period, combining training, digital onboarding, and pilot interventions to encourage the use of formal financial systems in everyday transactions. It is also aligned with national efforts to enhance financial literacy under Sri Lanka’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy, implemented in collaboration with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. 

By directly linking financial inclusion to livelihood development, the partnership aims not only to improve financial literacy and income management but also to empower women and youth to actively engage in and benefit from Sri Lanka’s evolving digital economy.

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