The Fund for Rural Prosperity, established by the Mastercard Foundation, is a US$50 million challenge fund that aims to improve access to financial products and services for rural communities in Africa. The fund's primary goal is to enable 1,000,000 people in rural Africa to have better access to appropriate savings, credit, and insurance products. By doing so, the fund aims to alleviate poverty and promote economic prosperity in rural areas.

The Mastercard Foundation Fund for Rural Prosperity operates based on three guiding principles: impact, innovation, and sustainability. Projects supported by the fund are expected to have a positive effect on the lives of rural poor people by creating jobs, increasing income, improving productivity, and reducing vulnerability. The fund encourages the financial sector and agribusinesses to innovate and deliver financial services at scale, while also emphasizing the need for long-term financial sustainability.

The fund has already made a significant impact by fostering the development of innovative rural agriculture finance models, creating links between rural customers and financial service providers, and improving the understanding of customer needs. It also aims to achieve higher rates of financial inclusion through private sector initiatives and supports the coordination of learning and sharing among organizations in the sector. Overall, the Fund for Rural Prosperity is making a positive difference in promoting financial inclusion, improving rural livelihoods, and building stronger market systems in Africa