Ant International, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and GCash are collaborating to develop a Sustainability Impact Scorecard aimed at helping micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines track and improve their environmental and social performance through digital tools.
At the Memorandum of Understanding signing of Ant International, IFC, and GCash (from left): IFC East Asia and the Pacific Regional Advisory Manager for Financial Institutions Group Christina Ongoma; GCash Group Head for New Businesses Winsley Bangit; and Ant International Vice President and Head of Global Affairs and Strategic Development Carrie Suen.
The initiative leverages AI and data-driven insights within the GCash ecosystem to provide MSMEs with accessible and standardized methods to measure sustainability, align with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks, and enhance business credibility. By simplifying ESG tracking, the Scorecard aims to make sustainability adoption more practical for small businesses.
MSMEs represent 99.6% of businesses in the Philippines and employ over two-thirds of the workforce, yet many face challenges in accessing financing. The Scorecard addresses this gap by enabling businesses to demonstrate sustainability performance—an increasingly important factor for securing green financing and attracting investors.
According to project stakeholders, the tool will also help MSMEs build transparency and trust with financial institutions by offering measurable sustainability benchmarks. The integration of AI technologies is expected to further democratize access to advanced analytics, allowing even small enterprises to participate in sustainable digital transformation.
The initiative builds on global sustainability efforts, including discussions at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and aligns with Ant International’s Programme Sirius, launched in 2024 to support MSMEs in adopting sustainable practices. With GCash as the pilot platform, the project will translate global ESG standards into localized, actionable digital solutions for Filipino businesses.
The Scorecard rollout will occur in phases, starting with ecosystem assessments and stakeholder engagement, followed by development, validation, and field testing. Insights from the Philippine pilot are expected to inform broader implementation across the Asia-Pacific region.
By combining fintech platforms, AI capabilities, and global ESG expertise, the partnership highlights how technology is enabling MSMEs to integrate sustainability into daily operations, improve access to funding, and scale responsibly within an increasingly digital economy.
