The Interledger Foundation and Small Foundation are providing matched core support to the Alliance of Digital Finance and Fintech Associations (AllianceDFA), to support its role as a global convenor and community of practice for responsible and inclusive digital finance. The funding will support AllianceDFA’s work to strengthen the capacity of digital finance and fintech associations, foster collective learning and representation across the profession, and catalyze collaboration and innovation across digital finance ecosystems.
AllianceDFA’s global membership is now 43 associations, representing more than 50 jurisdictions. The member associations collectively represent more than 2,000 fintechs, agritechs, neobanks, mobile money operators, banks, and microfinance institutions. AllianceDFA member associations act as country-level focal points for digital finance and fintech ecosystems, bringing together industry insight, local networks, and practical experience from the organisations working in their local contexts to expand access to responsible and inclusive digital financial services.
“I really see us evolving into creating a voice of the profession,” said Sarah Corley, Chief Executive Officer, AllianceDFA. “We want to cultivate that voice and amplify it, so the needs of players who are really focused on supporting underserved groups including MSMEs, rural communities, and women through financial services are also heard at a global level.”
Through its work, AllianceDFA supports associations to build capacity, foster collaboration, advocate for enabling policy and regulatory environments, and help shape digital finance ecosystems that are more inclusive and resilient. Its work is particularly focused on ensuring that the digital finance profession better serves people and communities that remain excluded from, or underserved by, formal financial systems, including women, rural communities, youth, displaced populations, and micro, small and medium enterprises.
“Financial services that work for everyone do not happen by accident,” said Ayden Férdeline, Lead, Public Policy and Government Affairs, at the Interledger Foundation. “They require organizations like AllianceDFA doing the hard work of bringing financial service providers together, building shared understanding, and making sure the needs of excluded communities shape what gets built. We are proud to support that work.”
“We believe networks like AllianceDFA play an important role in driving systems change through collaborative efforts, building trust, strengthening peer learning, and connecting practitioners across markets,” said Aoife Kenna, Network Analyst at Small Foundation. “This kind of collaboration is essential for developing financial ecosystems that better serve underserved communities.”
The matched funding brings together Small Foundation’s experience in supporting systems change through networks with the Interledger Foundation’s commitment to open, inclusive financial ecosystems. For Small Foundation, the investment reflects its continued belief in the power of networks to support rural-impacting enterprises and the ecosystems around them. For the Interledger Foundation, it builds on an earlier policy activation grant to AllianceDFA and creates an opportunity to learn from the Small Foundation’s approach while deepening support for AllianceDFA’s role as a trusted convenor and community of practice.
AllianceDFA values its partnership with Interledger Foundation and Small Foundation. Their commitment reflects recognition of the value, impact, and potential of the AllianceDFA network to drive meaningful change. Their provision of core support strengthens the network and enables the delivery of programs and activities that advance the growth of inclusive and responsible financial services.
About AllianceDFA
The Alliance of Digital Finance and Fintech Associations (AllianceDFA) is a global network of digital finance and fintech associations, working collectively to lead inclusive and responsible digital finance ecosystems. Through their deep local knowledge and trusted industry networks, member associations act as country focal points, convening stakeholders and contributing market insights. AllianceDFA amplifies their collective impact by fostering cross-border collaboration, sharing knowledge, shaping industry standards, and supporting enabling policy that fuels responsible innovation and financial inclusion.
Learn more: https://www.alliancedfa.org
About the Interledger Foundation
The Interledger Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization and steward of open payment technologies, including the Interledger Protocol, the Open Payments API, and the Web Monetization standard. The foundation’s mission is to enable anyone to send and receive money as simply and freely as information moves across the Internet.
Learn more: https://www.interledger.org
About Small Foundation
Small Foundation is a philanthropic foundation based in Ireland that is working to catalyze and scale income-generating opportunities for people living in extreme poverty in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Small Foundation’s goal is to collaborate with those creating the environment for micro, small and medium enterprises to succeed and deliver opportunity at scale. Learn more: https://www.smallfoundation.ie