Ant International, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Philippine digital payments platform GCash have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a Sustainability Impact Scorecard designed to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines measure their environmental and social performance and access sustainable financing.

As reported by PR Newswire, the Scorecard will provide Filipino MSMEs with accessible pathways to track sustainability performance, build credibility with investors and lenders, and align with global ESG standards. By leveraging the GCash ecosystem and metrics tailored to the Philippine market, the tool aims to translate complex sustainability frameworks into practical, actionable insights for businesses that have historically been excluded from green capital markets.

MSMEs account for 99.6% of businesses in the Philippines and employ over two-thirds of the workforce, yet limited access to financing remains a persistent structural barrier to growth and sustainability adoption.

Winsley Bangit, GCash group head for New Businesses, said the Scorecard was a game-changer for MSMEs, providing visibility into their environmental and social impact and credibility that can attract green capital and partnerships.

Carrie Suen, vice President and head of Global Affairs and Strategic Development at Ant International, said the collaboration makes technologies such as AI more accessible to local MSMEs, "empowering them to participate in the next wave of sustainable digital transformation."

Christina Ongoma, IFC East Asia and the Pacific Regional Advisory Manager for the Financial Institutions Group, said equipping MSMEs with the right tools would strengthen resilience, support adaptation, and enable sustainable growth at scale.

Examine the full details of the Sustainability Impact Scorecard initiative and its implications for MSME green financing in the complete announcement.