Port Vila, Vanuatu – 21 August 2025 – Vanuatu has launched GrowSmart, a digital savings tool accessed via the M-VATU USSD/SIM-based service on both basic phones and smartphones which aimed at expanding access to financial services, especially for people in remote and underserved communities.
GrowSmart allows users to securely save money and earn interest directly through their mobile phones, eliminating the burden of costly travel to distant bank branches. This innovation responds to the reality that nearly one-third (32%) of Vanuatu’s adult population remains excluded from both formal and informal financial services, largely due to the country’s dispersed geography and high infrastructure costs.
This initiative is part of the Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP), an initiative implemented by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UN Development Program (UNDP) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
It was developed in partnership with Vodafone Vanuatu, the Government of Vanuatu and the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu, with funding support from Australia, New Zealand and the European Union.
GrowSmart supports the efforts of key regional partners in advancing the implementation of the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap. It is in alignment with Key Priority Area 5 on Electronic Payment Solutions, specifically implementing Measure 5.1.1 ‘Promote the establishments of new fintech providers focusing on serving the whole region’; and Measure 5.1.4 ‘Promote the use of fintech based solutions to transfer remittances.’
A new innovation like GrowSmart will need to be supported by tailored awareness and educational campaigns to ensure equitable benefit among all users. This is why PDEP conducts regular financial and digital literacy campaigns nationwide, empowering households and businesses to build resilience, manage remittances, and embrace digital solutions for growth.
With GrowSmart, Vanuatu takes a major step forward in building an inclusive digital economy, connecting communities, strengthening financial inclusion, and unlocking opportunities for a stronger digital economy.
