The second phase has commenced for the Mastercard Challengeon Financial Inclusion for the SDGs under the theme “Solving for the future”,with 21 shortlisted university students from Bahrain, who will be engagedthrough expert sessions to help develop 13 innovative solutions. Launched inpartnership with the Ministry of Sustainable Development in Bahrain, TheBENEFIT Company, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), and StartUp Bahrain, the challengeseeks to identify and nurture pioneering solutions that leverage financialinclusion to address development challenges facing the SDGs.
The three-week summer bootcamp, organized by the Labour Fund(Tamkeen), Startup Bahrain and Spring Venture Services (A Mena-based consultingagency specialised in empowering and accelerating impact), will take placeat Diwan Hub in Manama. It includes a comprehensive program designed to equipparticipants with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship necessary torevolutionize financial inclusion. Through a carefully designed curriculum,participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the SDGs and their accelerators,mastering the application of technology, artificial intelligence, and businessmodeling to develop new viable solutions.
A distinguished group of experts from the main challengepartners will share their expertise in the field, inspiring participants tothink critically and creatively while shedding light on key success stories andtrends in Bahrain’s digital financial infrastructure. In addition, other keyknowledge partners include the Central Bank of Bahrain, Mumtalakat, the UnitedNations Resident Coordinator's Office in Bahrain, National Bank of Bahrain(NBB), STC Pay, ila Bank, and Bahrain Fintech Bay. By exposing participants tothese real-world challenges and success stories, the bootcamp aims to cultivatea new generation of financial inclusion leaders capable of driving positivechange in Bahrain.
Participants will have the opportunity to showcase theirrefined solutions at the flagship Fintech Forward 2024 conference in October2024 in Bahrain. This unique platform will provide the finalists with theopportunity to gain valuable feedback, attract potential investment, andimplement their ideas in Bahrain’s thriving financial ecosystem and beyond.
Through this strategic partnership, The Mastercard Challengeis a key initiative that is paving the way for the UN’ s upcoming Summit of theFuture which will take place from 22-23 September 2024. By nurturing a pipelineof innovative talent and empowering youth in Bahrain to play an active role invoicing their ideas, they can transform the world into a better and moreinclusive place.