Mastercard’s Unlocking the Power of Small Businesses to Drive Climate-Smart Inclusive Growth argues that micro and small enterprises (MSEs) which form 90% of businesses worldwide must be central to climate solutions. Co-authored with Christensen Global, the report identifies three enablers: data, capital, and wrap-around support. It features 30 case studies spanning Africa, Asia, and the Americas, showing how digital finance, parametric insurance, blended capital and training can de-risk MSEs and equip them as drivers of climate-smart inclusive growth

The MESH–Mastercard Strive Practice Paper shares insights from building Kenya’s first digital community for informal micro-entrepreneurs. Between 2021–2024, MESH supported over 400,000 young entrepreneurs, with 53% now earning above KES 6,000 monthly (up from 27%) and 60% reporting improved income or new ventures. Notably, 90% of women MESHERS saw income growth, 32% by over 50%. The report highlights gender inclusion, digital upskilling, peer mentoring, and agile data-driven learning as critical to resilient, inclusive enterprise growth

The partnership between Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Common Cents Lab aims to enhance financial resilience for digital platform workers and entrepreneurs in Latin America. By employing behavioral science strategies, the initiative focuses on increasing savings, credit access, and earnings, reaching 180,000 users with the potential to impact 12.1 million. One key intervention, the introduction of default savings options, led to an increase in the use of savings pockets from 14% to 28%.

Mastercard's initiative, in partnership with Shell Foundation and Co-operative Bank of Kenya, seeks to empower off-grid African farmers by providing access to clean energy technologies. The program offers affordable credit for solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and other technologies, which have the potential to increase yields by 40% and improve market access. The pilot is set to benefit 100,000 farmers, with interest rates reduced by six percentage points to make these technologies more accessible.

The report underscores persistent disparities in employment between people with and without disabilities across seven countries, despite the presence of progressive policies. Barriers such as poor employer attitudes and inadequate educational opportunities continue to hinder inclusive employment. The report recommends strategies including skills development, microfinance, and disability sensitization, along with addressing data gaps for effective policy implementation. Significant educational disparities are highlighted, with 11-61% of children with disabilities out of school and up to 25% fewer people with disabilities completing primary school compared to their non-disabled peers. Additionally, disparities in NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates persist between disabled and non-disabled youth.

The "Striving to Thrive" report highlights the Mastercard Strive Indonesia initiative, which aims to empower 300,000 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) by 2025 through digitalization, access to credit, and ecosystem strengthening. The program focuses on overcoming barriers such as limited digital skills and access to finance, especially for women-led businesses. In Indonesia, 64 million small businesses contribute 61% of the country's GDP and employ 93% of the workforce. However, 66% of MSEs did not access any support services in the past 12 months, and 50% of these businesses are women-led.

The Mastercard 2023 ESG Report emphasizes the company's dedication to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving gender pay equity, and enhancing financial inclusion. Key achievements highlighted in the report include a 41% reduction in total Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions since 2016, achieving 96.4% gender pay equity, and connecting 870 million people to the digital economy since 2015. Additionally, Mastercard has funded the planting of 17 million trees through the Priceless Planet Coalition.