Maya taps SPARK! to support women micro-entrepreneurs

MANILA, Philippines — Maya is working with SPARK! Philippines (Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran Inc.), a non-government organization focused on empowering women and marginalized sectors through various advocacy programs, as part of its flagship sustainability initiative for women’s financing under its broader financial health agenda.

Under the collaboration, Maya will expand access to digital financial services for women micro-entrepreneurs, including payments, savings, and credit. It is tapping SPARK! to complement this through training, mentorship, advocacy and community-based support, recognizing that helping women grow their businesses requires more than financing alone.

“This is a segment that is heavily driving economic activity but still remains underserved,” said Toff Rada, head of corporate affairs at Maya. “Our focus is to support women-led micro businesses in ways that reflect how they actually operate – through tools that help them manage, grow and sustain their income over time.”

“Women micro-entrepreneurs are already driving economic activity in their communities, but many still face barriers beyond access to financing,” said Maica Teves, executive director of SPARK! “By working with Maya, we aim to bring training, mentorship and community-based support closer to them, helping strengthen and sustain their businesses.”

Women play a central role in the Philippine MSME sector, with various studies indicating that more than half of small businesses are owned or led by women.

Women also account for a significant share of new business formation in the country. MSMEs represent 99.5 percent of all formal businesses, employ about 63 percent of the workforce and contribute roughly 40 percent of economic output, based on data from the Department of Trade and Industry and Philippine Statistics Authority.

Despite this, women-led enterprises remain underserved.

A 2023 study by the Asian Development Bank found that only about 28 percent of women-led MSMEs adopt digital financial services, compared to 44 percent of male-led businesses – highlighting gaps in access to tools that support growth and financial stability.

Maya’s own network points to the opportunity when these gaps are addressed. More than 90 percent of its nationwide Maya Centers are operated by women, many of whom run sari-sari stores and other neighborhood businesses.

Through its Maya Business app, Maya enables MSMEs to accept digital payments, manage transactions and access financial services in one place. This helps simplify daily operations and improve cash flow. Eligible businesses can also access short-term credit through Maya Advance to support working capital needs, such as restocking inventory and managing day-to-day expenses.

The collaboration reflects Maya’s approach to financial health – expanding access to financial services while ensuring these are used in ways that help women entrepreneurs grow, manage their businesses and build more resilient livelihoods.