Faster and direct cash assistance to disaster-affected communities will be ensured through bKash as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) partners with the largest mobile financial service provider to disburse funds digitally.
An agreement was signed recently at the FAO Bangladesh country office in Dhaka, according to bKash.
Under the deal, FAO will use bKash’s disbursement solution to send non-conditional cash assistance to beneficiaries, including farmers, fishermen, livestock keepers, and day labourers.
The system will enable instant transfers to beneficiaries’ accounts at any time, including weekends and holidays.
The initiative aims to simplify field-level financial management while improving transparency and security.
FAO will also use the platform to implement its Cash-for-Work (CFW) programme, under which vulnerable people receive wages for short-term work supporting agriculture, food security, and natural resource management.
Programme facilitators will also receive their allowances through bKash.
Recipients will be able to withdraw cash from agent points or automated teller machine (ATM) booths nationwide, or use funds digitally for merchant payments, utility bills, money transfers, mobile recharges, and government or education fee payments.
FAO Representative Jiaoqun Shi, Deputy FAO Representative Dia Sanou, and Assistant FAO Representative Administration Ekramul Hoque attended the signing.
bKash Chief Commercial Officer Ali Ahmmed, Head of Business Sales Masrur Chowdhury, and Vice President Micro Finance Payment Business Sales Novera Ayesha Zaman were also present.
The partnership is expected to strengthen financial inclusion and improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance across Bangladesh.
