Under the Youth Livelihoods in Digital Financial Services (YLDFS) initiative, the Mastercard Foundation (MCF) commissioned MSC to explore innovative models for improving financial resilience among youth in the gig economy. MSC partnered with Lynk, a digital platform that connects informal skilled workers to customers, to cocreate sustainable microinsurance product concepts tailored to the needs of young gig workers.
MSC conducted detailed market research to understand the specific needs and risks faced by gig workers on the Lynk platform. The engagement involved co-designing microinsurance concepts—including traditional push models, pull models, and pay-as-you-go solutions—aligned with workers’ irregular incomes and varying risk profiles. We also facilitated partnerships with local insurers to assess operational feasibility and helped structure a pilot-ready product design. Through this collaboration, we supported Lynk in identifying its short-term insurance requirements and co-developing an umbrella Personal Accident (PA) insurance coverage for its active professionals. An agreement was structured to allow for mass coverage, capable of protecting 400+ workers engaged by Lynk in a single day. MSC also introduced experiential learning approaches using digital tools to promote continuous financial literacy among youth workers.
The insurance product developed under this initiative is currently undergoing pilot implementation in partnership with Britam Kenya, with early results expected to inform future insurance models for the informal sector. This work lays the groundwork for scalable, technology- driven insurance solutions that can enhance income security and improve the livelihoods of gig workers across Africa.
Mastercard Foundation commissioned the project.
KSP TLM, a cooperative operating in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, wanted to modernize its operations by replacing its legacy system with a robust Core Banking Solution (CBS). This transition was part of the cooperative’s broader digital transformation strategy to improve operational efficiency, meet regulatory requirements, and enhance client service delivery. Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned MSC to lead the CBS implementation process.
MSC was engaged as the lead consulting partner to provide comprehensive, end-to-end support for the CBS implementation. The assignment began with a detailed requirements analysis to identify feature enhancements, particularly in savings modules and functional gaps.
MSC coordinated closely with the CBS vendor to align system modifications with TLM’s operational needs and managed the full data migration process, including extraction from legacy systems, data cleansing, and structured integration into the new CBS. The team also led the development of a Training of Trainers (TOT) strategy to build internal capacity for long-term sustainability. A phased rollout approach, combined with a parallel run plan, was adopted to ensure minimal disruption during go-live. Post-go-live support was embedded into the project to address system stabilization and user adoption issues.
The ongoing project is set to deliver a fully customized CBS tailored to TLM’s needs. It is also expected to improve internal system proficiency, ensure operational continuity, and significantly enhance the client experience through more efficient and reliable service delivery.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned the project.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) sought to expand its impact in Indonesia by identifying microfinance institutions (MFIs) aligned with its investment principles. Koperasi Mitra Dhuafa (KOMIDA), a cooperative utilizing a modified Grameen group-lending model, was shortlisted as a potential debt investment partner. To assess KOMIDA’s institutional capacity and alignment, OIA engaged MSC to conduct a detailed due diligence.
MSC deployed a multidisciplinary team to conduct a comprehensive due diligence of KOMIDA. The process involved both a desk-based review and a field-level institutional assessment. At KOMIDA’s head office in Jakarta, MSC reviewed core documents on credit, operations, finance, HR, MIS, and internal audit to evaluate the business model and portfolio profile.
The team also held in-depth interviews with board members, senior leadership, and functional heads to understand governance practices, strategic direction, and institutional maturity. Field visits were conducted in four branches across West Java and Jogjakarta, where MSC used focus group discussions (FGDs), individual interviews, and a sample-based portfolio audit to validate credit processes.
MSC’s due diligence provided OIA with a comprehensive understanding of KOMIDA’s institutional strengths and operational gaps. Based on the findings, OIA proceeded with a debt investment that enabled KOMIDA to expand its outreach from 150,000 to over 500,000 clients within three years. The partnership helped position KOMIDA as one of the leading MFIs in Indonesia’s microfinance sector.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned the project.
Bina Artha Ventura (BAV), a rapidly growing microfinance institution in Indonesia, operates using a modified Grameen group-lending model. As part of its growth strategy, BAV was seeking equity investment to expand outreach and institutional capacity. Opportunity International Australia (OIA) intended to assess BAV’s suitability for investment in line with its impact and governance criteria. To support this, OIA engaged MSC to conduct an operational due diligence of BAV.
MSC carried out a comprehensive due diligence of BAV using a three-fold methodology: desk review, head office assessment, and field-level verification. The review included an analysis of policy manuals, financial records, internal audit reports, MIS outputs, and governance documents to assess operational soundness and financial viability. MSC conducted in-depth interviews with senior leadership, board members, and functional teams to understand organizational alignment with OIA’s investment mandate. Field visits to four branches—Jombang, Nganjuk, Kediri, and Mojokerto—were undertaken to observe on-ground practices. These visits included focus group discussions (FGDs) and individual interviews with staff and clients, as well as a sample-based portfolio audit to validate credit practices and customer engagement.
MSC’s findings informed OIA’s investment decision and shaped technical assistance for BAV’s post-investment support. The investment catalyzed and helped BAV attract additional funding from both social and commercial investors. The due diligence laid the groundwork for a long-term partnership and positioned BAV as one of Indonesia’s fastest-growing microfinance institutions.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned the project.
Equity Bank, one of the largest banks in Kenya, sought to expand financial access for the country’s growing youth population. The goal was to develop savings products tailored to the unique behaviors, aspirations, and financial needs of young people. Recognizing the importance of capturing this demographic early, the bank intended to foster long-term saving habits and build a new generation of loyal customers.
MSC partnered with Equity Bank to provide technical assistance in designing youth-centric savings products. Using its Market Insights for Innovation and Design (MI4ID) methodology, MSC led a detailed market research process that included qualitative research, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisals. The insights helped identify key motivators and constraints in youth financial behavior. Based on these findings, MSC guided the development of product concepts, supported prototype refinement, and assisted in pilot preparation.
The engagement resulted in five new youth-focused savings products:
- Equity jijenge – A customer-defined contractual savings plan
- Equity education program – A savings product for school fees
- Equity super junior – A savings account for children
- Equity student achievers’ account – A savings account for students
- Equity youth – A restricted withdrawal savings account
These innovations had a significant impact. Youth clients increased from 13% in 2012 to 47% by 2019. The average customer age dropped to 24 years. Additionally, over 97% of transactions now occur digitally, reflecting the successful integration of youth and digital strategies.
The Equity Bank of Kenya commissioned the project.
MiDAS serves as the central data infrastructure for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the Philippines, supporting them with credit data services and analytics tools. Despite its critical role, MiDAS faced strategic and operational challenges that limited its ability to scale and deliver secure, reliable, and data-driven solutions to MFIs. To strengthen MiDAS’s capabilities and enable it to serve as a trusted growth enabler for the microfinance sector, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) engaged MSC to conduct an institutional assessment.
MSC carried out a comprehensive Institutional Assessment (IA) of MiDAS across six thematic pillars: strategy and market positioning, technology and IT infrastructure, product and channels, people and capacity building, partnerships, external environment. Using a structured framework, MSC combined stakeholder interviews, process reviews, and system audits to evaluate MiDAS’s operational performance, product relevance, technical architecture, and organizational capacity. Particular focus was placed on assessing data security, subscriber engagement, and internal readiness to adopt improvements.
The assessment led to actionable recommendations that have positioned MiDAS for future growth. Key outcomes included:
- A roadmap to improve strategic planning and subscriber engagement through a revamped Technical Working Group (TWG)
- Enhanced usability of key products such as BARs/PODs and analytics tools
- IT infrastructure upgrades, including SQL server enhancements, encryption protocols, and data recovery systems
- Tools to reduce logical errors and automate data workflows
- Training modules for MiDAS subscribers on product usage and delivery processes
Asian Development Bank (ADB) commissioned the project.