THE LAST MILE PROBLEM
Digital inclusion does not fail because of missing infrastructure. It fails when systems are not designed for targeted user behavior. This gap defines the last mile problem.
Global Expansion
Digital systems are expanding globally, distributing useful services to large sets of populations across different socio economic segments.
The Adoption Gap
However, adoption of the majority of innovative digital systems do not reach the marginalized segments.
User Challenges
Millions face challenges in understanding, trusting, and using digital services.
Scaling & Impact
Develop business model and plan for sustainable growth
Testing & Validation
Test prototypes with users and refine based on feedback
Ideation & Prototyping
Generate ideas and build prototypes to visualize solutions
Challenge Definition
Frame the core problem and set project focus
Research & Discovery
Uncover user needs and market opportunities through research
WHERE INNOVATIONMEETS INCLUSION
At Digital Innovation Inclusion Lab, we develop solutions that make digital systems simpler, safer, and more intuitive for marginalized communities.
Our work focuses on translating complex systems into experiences that users of all disabilities can understand, trust, and adopt.
The lab has been created to address this gap through structured innovation process and real-world experimentation.
GATES FOUNDATION SUPPORTEDDIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION INNOVATION PROGRAM
PAKISTAN’S DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM IS ACCELERATING
With Raast adoption and government digitization, we are seeing a definitive shift toward cashless models across the country.
The purpose of this Gates Foundation–supported program is to close this financial adoption gap by designing solutions that align with user behavior at the last mile.
THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The program aims to bridge the gap between access and usage by developing digital financial solutions that increase the value perception of DFS among the marginalized segment.
Youth
Pakistan’s youth population has high smartphone access, yet very low financial service usage. Despite holding accounts, most students continue to rely on cash due to lack of relevant use cases and limited merchant acceptance in their daily environments. As a result, financial habits fail to form at an early stage.
Married Women
Women manage household finances but remain the most financially excluded group. Low literacy, privacy concerns, language barriers, fear of mistakes, and limited confidence prevent independent digital usage. Financial tracking remains informal and disconnected from formal systems.
Rural & Migrant Communities
Rural and migrant populations operate in cash-dependent environments shaped by low connectivity, system unreliability, and dependence on agents. These conditions weaken trust in digital channels and reinforce informal financial behavior.
THE PROGRAM AIMS TO:
Building confidence in digital financial usage
Reducing dependence on informal and cash-based practices
Improving trust through reliability and simplicity
Creating scalable, inclusive business model pathways
Designing low-literacy, intuitive financial experiences
Embedding financial learning into everyday behavior
design for adoption, not only access
OURAPPROACH
Human-Centered Design
The program applies a human-centered design approach to understand real financial behaviors, constraints, and decision-making of the unbanked segments. It combines this with the Innovator’s Method, allowing solutions to shape new business models rather than forcing them into existing ones.
User Perspective
This approach enables the program to explore financial services from the perspective of first-time users, low-literacy users, and users operating in predominantly cash-based environments.
THE IMPACT
Earlier financial engagement among youth
Increase in financial participation by women
CASHLESS UNIVERSITY
Digital financial confidence
AI BOT
Rural & migrant financial ecosystems
P2P
Inclusive financial future
By focusing on adoption rather than access, the program contributes to a more inclusive and sustainable financial future.
OUR SHARED COMMITMENT
With the support of the Gates Foundation, this program reflects a shared commitment to building financial systems that work for everyone - including those who are too often designed out of them.
OUR SPONSOR
JOIN OUR TEAM
Be part of a mission-driven team building digital and financial tools for real people. Help shape solutions that bring opportunity to the last mile.
PARTNER WITH US
Work with us to co-create products, pilots, and models that expand digital and financial access. Together, we can build systems that truly include everyone.
READ STORIES
See How We're Shaping the Future of Inclusion. Explore partnerships, milestones, and stories from our journey in building inclusive digital and financial systems.