Cashi, IFC expand low connectivity payments

A new partnership has been announced between International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, and Cashi, a fintech firm focused on developing digital payment infrastructure across Africa, including in Chad

The collaboration will support interoperable payment solutions tailored for environments with limited connectivity.

Cashi’s platform enables individuals and businesses to send and receive money using mobile phones, point-of-sale devices, and SMS-based tools. By linking users with banks, telecom operators, and other financial institutions within a unified ecosystem, the solution simplifies everyday transactions in markets where cash usage remains prevalent and access to formal financial services is still constrained.

For small and medium-sized enterprises, the platform reduces reliance on physical cash, lowers transaction costs, and expands access to financial services, supporting business growth and job creation. In Chad, financial inclusion remains low, with only about 10–15% of adults holding a bank or mobile money account, compared to more than 30% across sub-Saharan Africa.

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.”

“Expanding access to digital financial services through innovative, tailored solutions is critical in markets where smartphone penetration is low,” said Olivier Buyoya, IFC division director for West Africa. “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.”

The initiative is aligned with the government’s Tchad Connexion 2030 strategy, which prioritises digitalisation and financial inclusion as key drivers of economic diversification, improved revenue mobilisation, and private sector growth in Chad. It also reflects IFC’s growing engagement in the Sahel region, with a focus on financial services, agribusiness, digital connectivity, and climate resilience.