Abstract
Women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in improving family well-being and supporting economic growth in Bangladesh. However, many women entrepreneurs still face challenges such as limited access to finance, low digital skills, and social barriers. As digital financial services—like mobile and online payments—become more common, they may offer new opportunities for women to manage their businesses more efficiently. Yet, there is limited causal evidence showing whether learning to use digital payments can actually improve women’s business and household outcomes. This study tests whether providing digital payment literacy training can help women entrepreneurs in the Khulna region. A total of 321 women SME owners who currently do not use digital payment platforms will participate. Among them, 165 women will be randomly selected to receive training on how to make, receive, and transfer digital payments, as well as how to use these tools safely. The remaining 156 will not receive training. The study will then compare the two groups to see whether the training increases knowledge and adoption of digital payments. We will conduct follow-up surveys every two months to measure changes in business performance—such as monthly sales, profits, and digital transactions—as well as household welfare and women’s decision-making power. The study will estimate the direct impact of the training, and in cases where some participants do not follow the training as expected, additional analyses will be used. The results will provide strong evidence on whether digital payment literacy can support women’s economic empowerment and help shape policies to expand digital financial inclusion in Bangladesh.