Delivering Critical Services to Remote Communities, Our Fragile Moment, New Covid Variant
Sep 27, 2024
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Tara Nathan, EVP and Founder of Mastercard’s Community Pass, shares insights on improving access to social services in remote communities in Africa and South Asia. Michael E. Mann, a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses lessons from his book, stressing urgent climate action informed by historical data. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Senior Scholar at Johns Hopkins, analyzes the new Covid XEC variant, emphasizing readiness for future outbreaks and targeted vaccinations for high-risk groups, all while navigating ongoing public health challenges.
Mastercard's Community Pass program has improved social service delivery in remote communities, enhancing financial access and agricultural yields for smallholder farmers.
The podcast stresses the importance of learning from Earth's climatic history to inform contemporary climate action and mitigate future warming scenarios.
Deep dives
Empowering Smallholder Farmers
The Community Pass program aims to enhance financial access for smallholder farmers in remote areas of Africa and India by providing digital platforms that connect them to essential resources. Over the past year, the initiative has scaled to reach 6 million users across six global markets, offering services like authenticated seed supply and access to marketplaces. As a result, users have experienced a yield increase of 30-50% due to improved seed quality, and they can now engage directly with multiple buyers, leading to a 20-30% improvement in selling prices. This approach not only supports their economic stability but also bolsters climate resilience by empowering farmers to adapt their cropping strategies in the face of climate change.
Mastercard's Commitment to Sustainability
Mastercard's long-term strategy focuses on integrating social impact with commercial sustainability, aiming to connect one billion people to the formal digital economy. The Community Pass program aligns with this goal, as these emerging markets represent future growth potential for the company. The dual mandate ensures that while creating economic opportunities for underserved communities, Mastercard also positions itself strategically within these burgeoning markets. This commitment highlights the importance of harnessing digital technology to offer sustainable solutions while simultaneously promoting business relevance.
Collective Action in Economic Development
The newly launched Made Alliance emphasizes the importance of collective action among private and public sector actors for mobilizing access to the digital economy in Africa. This collaborative approach includes significant financial commitments, such as a $300 million pledge from the African Development Bank to support the initiative. By uniting various stakeholders, including banks and technology providers, the alliance aims to create a robust ecosystem that facilitates access to essential financial services for rural communities. This strategy underscores a shift from traditional donor-driven models to sustainable partnerships, aiming for long-term economic support.
Lessons from Historical Climate Events
The discussion emphasizes the importance of learning from Earth's extensive climatic history to navigate current challenges. Historical events, such as mass extinctions driven by climate change, provide critical lessons about the urgency of mitigating carbon emissions. Current climate models reflect trends observed in past events, suggesting that a proactive approach can prevent catastrophic warming scenarios. Ultimately, recognizing both the fragility and resilience of our climate system can motivate necessary actions to maintain ecological balance and avert serious repercussions.
Tara Nathan, EVP and Founder of Mastercard’s Community Pass, discusses transforming delivery of social services in remote communities in Africa and South Asia. Michael E. Mann, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, talks about his book Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis. Dr. Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar at the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shares his thoughts the Covid XEC strain.
Hosts: Carol Massar and Stephen Carroll. Producer: Paul Brennan.