The "Mastercard Challenge on Financial Inclusion forthe SDGs: Solving for the Future" has successfully concluded its intensivethree-week summer bootcamp, which took place from August 11 to 29, 2024, atDiwan Hub in Manama. Organised by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and StartupBahrain, and managed by Spring Venture Services, the programme involved 18Bahraini university students who developed 11 innovative solutions aimed atadvancing financial inclusion to support the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). 

Launched inpartnership with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, The BENEFIT Company,Tamkeen, and Startup Bahrain, the challenge aimed to foster solutionsleveraging financial inclusion, modern technology, and artificial intelligenceto address SDG-related challenges. Participants received guidance covering keyareas such as AI, technology, and business modelling, while notable speakersfrom Bahrain's financial sector provided insights and mentorship.

The bootcampprovided students with the opportunity to participate in various expert ledsessions, one-on-one mentoring, and interactive workshops, enabling them torefine their solutions. Speakers from the Central Bank of Bahrain, SafaPlatform, National Bank of Bahrain, STC Pay, ila Bank, and Bahrain Fintech Baycontributed their expertise, encouraging participants to think critically andcreatively.

The challengewill culminate in a high-level event on October 3, 2024, at Bahrain FintechForward 2024, where five finalists, selected through a semi-final pitch onSeptember 11, 2024, will present their refined solutions. This eventunderscores Bahrain’s commitment to fostering innovation and advancing theglobal development agenda through financial inclusion, digitisation, and data.