N’Djamena, Chad — ifc and Cashi announced a partnership to expand digital payment services into central Africa on March 24, 2026 ET. The collaboration will deploy Cashi’s interoperable payment platform — mobile phones, point-of-sale devices and SMS-based tools — to broaden access to formal financial services where cash remains dominant. The initiative aims to reduce transaction costs for small businesses, improve access to finance and support the Tchad Connexion 2030 development agenda.
Ifc partnership details
The core of the project is Cashi’s digital payment infrastructure, designed to operate in low-connectivity environments and to connect users with banks, telecoms and other financial institutions within a single interoperable ecosystem. In Chad, only around 10–15 per cent of adults have a bank or mobile money account, compared with over 30 per cent across sub-Saharan Africa, a gap the partners say the platform is meant to address. For small businesses, the platform promises fewer constraints in handling cash, lower transaction costs and improved access to financial services that can help grow revenues and sustain jobs.
IFC frames the collaboration as part of a broader push to support accessible, low-tech and resilient architecture solutions in challenging markets. The institution operates in more than 100 countries and highlights a history of innovation and measurable development impact in private-sector growth. Ownership by 186 member countries and consistent AAA/Aaa ratings are cited as part of its institutional profile.
Immediate reactions
Tarneem Saeed, CEO of Cashi, said: “IFC’s upstream support allows us to adapt our proven, crisis-tested platform to the realities of central Africa. This partnership enables us to work closely with regulators and ecosystem partners, build trust with local merchants, and deliver practical financial tools that people can use in their daily lives, even in low-connectivity environments. ”
Olivier Buyoya, IFC Division Director for West Africa, said: “Expanding access to digital financial services through innovative, tailored solutions is critical in markets where smartphone penetration is low. This project underscores IFC’s commitment to support accessible, low‑tech, and resilient architecture solutions that boost access to finance for individuals and businesses in the Sahel more broadly. ”
What’s next for ifc and Chad
On March 24, 2026 ET the partners positioned the rollout as aligned with Chad’s Tchad Connexion 2030 development agenda, which identifies digitalization and financial inclusion as enablers of economic diversification and private sector development. The partnership is presented as part of IFC’s growing involvement in the Sahel, with stated priorities including financial services, agribusiness, digital connectivity and climate resilience. Implementation steps cited include working with regulators and ecosystem partners to build trust with local merchants and adapt the platform to local conditions.
Officials say the immediate focus will be practical deployment in low-connectivity settings and engagement with local merchants and regulators to ensure the platform functions alongside existing banks and telecoms. Observers will watch whether the interoperable architecture and SMS-enabled tools measurably raise account penetration and reduce cash dependence as the partners scale operations in central Africa.
