The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payment
services, today announced that it has expanded Western Union NGO
GlobalPay, a dedicated financial platform designed to meet the
international payment needs of non-profit, non-governmental
organisations and the people they serve.
The first phase of Western Union NGO GlobalPay was launched in December
2012. The platform is being designed and piloted to help NGOs overcome
the ‘last mile challenge’ and enable NGOs to reach more people in need
of funds quickly and securely, especially in times of disaster. Since
its launch, Western Union’s pilot partners have used the service to
provide emergency relief in some of the poorest and most conflict-ridden
regions of the globe.
The platform has delivered emergency relief to countries in Africa,
Latin America and the Middle East and this quarter, Western Union NGO
GlobalPay was used to deliver more than 3,500 payments to over 1,800
Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Brian Harris, chief product officer at Western Union Business Solutions,
said, “There is a distinct trend in the NGO sector towards cash
disbursement. More NGOs are looking for ways to send funds that give
recipients increased choice in deciding what they most need. The whole
point of this pilot is to create a payment platform that gives NGOs
speed, accountability and flexibility so they can get funds to the
people who need it most in the fastest, most appropriate way possible.”
“Delivering aid in an emergency increasingly means delivering cash,”
said Jane Cocking, Oxfam's Humanitarian Director. “Giving people money
in hand means they can choose what they need. This not only gives them
some control over their lives, it also gives back some dignity.
“As long as there are affordable goods available in the local market
then cash is smart-aid. Having an extensive network of cash outlets that
is secure, reliable, quick and at the right price will mean that we are
much better placed to deliver aid straight into the hands of those who
need it most.”
With the new release, Western Union NGO GlobalPay is now able to send
cash payments to 59 countries. By the end of the year, this number will
increase to 189 countries. The product will also include enhanced
reporting capabilities that will allow NGOs to track when each payment
is delivered, and where, allowing full reporting transparency for every
transaction they send.
Western Union NGO GlobalPay can now also make payments to mobile wallets
in 11 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, allowing recipients,
especially those who may face difficulties travelling, to receive funds
directly to a mobile phone.
Brian Harris continued, “We are excited to have reached a point where we
can send funds with even greater scale to allow people to receive cash
in person or via mobile wallets. We have already established a number of
partnerships with leading non-governmental organisations, including
Oxfam and Save the Children, through which NGO GlobalPay has been able
to support critical intervention by delivering thousands of payments to
help those in need.”
Western Union NGO GlobalPay represents Western Union’s two-year Clinton
Global Initiative Commitment to Action and will be fully in force by the
end of 2014.
Through Western Union Business Solutions services and products, over 500
NGOs have been served.
About The Western Union Company
The Western Union Company
(NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its
Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions
branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and
businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive
money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders.
As of June 30, 2013, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded
services were offered through a combined network of approximately
520,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
approximately 115,000 ATMs. In 2012, The Western Union Company completed
231 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $79
billion of principal between consumers, and 432 million business
payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
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Copyright Business Wire 2013