Call for Proposals: AI for Financial Resilience

Call for Proposals for the Mercy Corps Ventures  AI for Financial Resilience is now open. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are redefining the future of digital consumer products and transforming the way people interact with financial systems. When applied ethically and responsibly, AI has the potential to create more inclusive and accessible financial ecosystems—particularly for the 1.4 billion people worldwide who remain unbanked. By designing smarter, user-friendly, and adaptive solutions, these innovations can open doors for millions who have been excluded from traditional financial systems, enhancing their economic resilience and overall wellbeing.

As Mercedes Bidart, CEO of Quipu and a pilot partner of this initiative, insightfully shared during TED AI Vienna, “when you say yes to people who have always been told no, you unlock dignity, growth, and opportunity.” This statement captures the essence of what inclusive technology stands for—empowerment through access and trust.

To advance this vision, the MCV AI for Financial Resilience Initiative is leveraging AI, blockchain, and other emerging technologies to bridge the gap in financial inclusion across sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The program is focused on designing and scaling innovative financial tools such as AI-driven insurance, parametric credit models, savings via bond tokenization, and anticipatory cash transfers and remittances. These interventions aim to help unbanked, underbanked, and climate-vulnerable communities gain access to secure, affordable, and sustainable financial services.

THE PROBLEM

The challenge remains immense. A staggering 1.4 billion people, primarily women and rural dwellers in developing nations, still live outside the formal financial system. Several structural barriers continue to reinforce this exclusion, including limited access to financial services, absence of formal identification and credit histories, high service delivery costs in remote areas, low digital literacy, and distrust in digital platforms. Furthermore, climate change amplifies these vulnerabilities—disrupting livelihoods and pushing millions into extreme poverty. The World Bank estimates that between 68 and 135 million people in emerging economies could fall into severe poverty by 2030 due to climate-induced challenges like droughts, floods, and heatwaves.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The MCV initiative seeks to address these gaps through three core goals. First, it aims to expand financial inclusion and resilience through technology by introducing accessible and affordable financial services such as savings, credit, insurance, and remittance tools powered by AI and blockchain. Second, it focuses on building climate and financial resilience by piloting and scaling solutions that equip vulnerable communities to better cope with climate shocks and economic instability. Finally, it is dedicated to building evidence and sharing sector-wide learnings to inform policy, attract investment, and inspire replication of successful models across markets.

MCV is actively seeking innovative financial products and solutions tailored for unbanked and underbanked populations in emerging markets. These innovations may include AI-powered platforms that enhance financial literacy, digital training tools that help low-income users understand and manage financial services, or blockchain-based solutions that increase transparency and efficiency in savings, credit, and insurance delivery. The primary beneficiaries of the program are low-income individuals, women, immigrants, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—groups that form the backbone of emerging economies but often lack reliable financial access.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The initiative’s geographic focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, regions with some of the world’s largest unbanked populations. Projects will be assessed based on four key selection criteria:

• Impact: How effectively the proposal can build financial resilience for unbanked populations and the scale of its potential reach.

• Innovation: The originality and pioneering potential of the solution within the financial ecosystem.

• Sustainability: The strength of the business model and the scalability of the solution for long-term financial inclusion.

• Likelihood of Success: The project’s readiness level, user base, and potential to deliver measurable outcomes during the pilot phase.

APPLICATION

• Organizations, startups, and innovators working at the intersection of AI and financial resilience are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. The application window runs from November 4 to December 1, 2025, with more details available through the official application portal.
• An information session will also be held to provide insights into the program’s objectives and application process.
  Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
  Time: 9:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM Colombia / 3:00 PM EAT
• To participate or submit your proposal, visit the program website and REGISTER HERE.
• For more information and to apply, click APPLY NOW.