GCash, Ant International and IFC to Pioneer MSME Sustainability Scorecard in the Philippines

Ant International, International Finance Corp. (IFC), and GCash are developing a Sustainability Impact Scorecard. The GCash MSME sustainability scorecard will make it easier for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to track their environmental and social impact, easily adopt sustainability practices in business operations, and align with global standards.The scorecard aims to provide Filipino MSMEs with trusted, clear, and accessible pathways to measure sustainability performance, strengthen credibility, and unlock opportunities aligned with global ESG standards.By leveraging the GCash ecosystem and metrics curated towards the Philippine market, the MSME sustainability impact scorecard aims to empower local MSMEs with insights that are relevant to support them in transforming their businesses.

Aside from tracking sustainability performance, it also provides MSMEs a method to develop the credibility necessary to engage with investors and lenders with regard to sustainability performance. GCash Group Head for New Businesses, Winsley Bangit, shared,

Winsley Royce Bangit
“For MSMEs, this is a game-changer. It provides visibility into their environmental and social impact and credibility that can attract green capital and partnerships.”

Next, Carrie Suen, Vice President and Head of Global Affairs and Strategic Development at Ant International, added,

Carrie Suen
“Through our collaboration with GCash and IFC, we are making technologies such as AI more accessible to local MSMEs, empowering them to participate in the next wave of sustainable digital transformation.”

Christina Ongoma, IFC East Asia and the Pacific Regional Advisory Manager for the Financial Institutions Group, elaborated, saying that MSMEs play a critical role across markets. She continues, saying that providing MSMEs with ideal tools like the GCash MSME sustainability scorecard strengthens resilience, supports adaptation, and enables sustainable growth at scale.

The partnership builds on Ant International’s Programme Sirius, launched in 2024 to support MSMEs begin adopting sustainability practices. With GCash as a pilot partner, the initiative seeks to apply global sustainability frameworks through digital tools aimed at underserved communities in the Philippines.

The scorecard’s pilot will take place in phases, kicking off with ecosystem assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the development of the sustainability impact scorecard. Next, validation and field testing will take place.

Learnings from the pilot will inform potential scaling for the scorecard across the APAC region.

Source: Fintech News Philippines