Best practices in digital disbursement for Asia Pacific policymakers

Despite rapid advances in digital technology, humanitarian crises remain a pressing global concern. 

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 40 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, with significant numbers hosted in regions including Asia Pacific, where countries such as Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia are key host nations.  

The proliferation of digital payment solutions presents an opportunity to enhance the speed, transparency and efficiency of aid delivery. These are critical factors as humanitarian needs continue to grow in scale and complexity. 

A recent research paper by Visa details how card-based disbursement of financial aid enabled local authorities and payment providers across Europe to deliver timely, accountable and flexible humanitarian support to refugees and asylum seekers. 

From challenges to actionable insights 

In Germany, which hosts nearly 3 million refugees and asylum seekers, traditional aid disbursement mechanisms, such as cash, cheques and vouchers, were increasingly unsustainable due to high administration costs and operational burdens. 

In response, the SocialCard initiative, developed by GovTech company Publk GmbH in partnership with Visa, leveraged Germany’s extensive retail payment network to distribute aid using Visa debit cards.

This enabled seamless integration into existing municipal systems and allowed recipients, including those without bank accounts, to access essential funds quickly and securely. 

A key benefit highlighted by the Mayor of Hanover, Belit Onay, was the rapid onboarding process that freed up government resources for other critical tasks.  

The SocialCard’s adoption in 25 German municipalities demonstrates the value of scalable, interoperable solutions. Additionally, the ability to analyse aggregate spending patterns provided new insights for policy oversight and programme improvement. 

Similarly, in the Netherlands, a sharp increase in the refugee population prompted local authorities to introduce the Yoursafe payment solution, an e-money product supervised by the central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank N.V.  

Yoursafe offered tiered account types to accommodate different levels of identity verification, enabling broader financial inclusion for aid recipients, including those lacking traditional identification or smartphones. 

The experience underscored the importance of user education and robust customer support, especially on disbursement days and for managing lost or stolen cards. 

To subscribe to the GovInsider bulletin, click here.  

Building resilience for Asia Pacific 

For policymakers in Asia Pacific, where financial and digital inclusion levels vary widely, these European experiences provide valuable guidance. Card-based approaches can offer significant advantages in markets with established payment acceptance infrastructure. 

However, careful consideration must be given to local context, including regulatory frameworks, digital literacy and the specific needs of vulnerable populations. 

Key lessons for stakeholders include: 

• Collaboration is critical: Partnerships between governments, financial service providers, NGOs and technology companies amplify the reach and effectiveness of aid disbursement programmes 

• Flexibility and choice: Disbursement solutions must accommodate diverse recipient needs, including varying levels of identity verification and access to technology 

• Rapid and scalable deployment: Leverage existing payment networks and interoperable card solutions can enable swift response during crises 

• Data-driven oversight: Analysing aggregated transaction data while protecting privacy supports better governance and continuous improvement 

• User support and education: Ensuring recipients understand how to use digital tools is vital for successful adoption and inclusion 

As Asia Pacific governments continue to strengthen their social protection and humanitarian response systems, embracing digital payments and fostering strong payment partnerships will be central to building more resilient, inclusive communities. 

By working together, stakeholders can ensure that vital aid reaches those most in need quickly, securely and with dignity. 

This is the second of two articles on Visa Government Solutions’ refugee aid research insights. You can read the full research paper here and part one here.