Ifc and Cashi Bring Digital Payments to Chad: What the New Partnership Means for Small Businesses
In N’Djamena, Chad, on March 24, 2026, officials announced a partnership between the International Finance Corporation and fintech firm Cashi to expand digital payment services into central Africa. The ifc-backed move targets an economy where cash remains dominant and formal financial access is limited.
What is Ifc’s role in the Cashi partnership?
IFC, described in the announcement as the largest global development institution focused on the private sector, will provide upstream support and expertise to adapt Cashi’s digital payment platform to the regional realities of central Africa. The institution operates in more than 100 countries, is owned by 186 member countries and is rated AAA/Aaa. Its mandate in the project is to mobilize investment, share operational know‑how and support tailored, resilient architecture for financial services in low‑connectivity settings.
How will the technology work where connectivity is limited?
Cashi’s platform links banks, telecoms and other financial institutions into a single interoperable ecosystem and supports transactions through mobile phones, point‑of‑sale devices and SMS‑based tools. The design is intended to function in low‑connectivity environments so that everyday transactions can move away from cash even where smartphone penetration is low. “IFC’s upstream support allows us to adapt our proven, crisis‑tested platform to the realities of central Africa, ” said Tarneem Saeed, CEO of Cashi. “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. “
Why does this matter for small businesses and Chad’s broader agenda?
For small businesses, the platform aims to reduce cash‑handling constraints, lower transaction costs and improve access to financial services—factors that support revenue growth and job creation. In Chad, only around 10–15 percent of adults have a bank or mobile money account, compared with over 30 percent across sub‑Saharan Africa, a gap the project seeks to narrow. Olivier Buyoya, IFC Division Director for West Africa, highlighted the emphasis on accessible, low‑tech solutions: “Expanding access to digital financial services through innovative, tailored solutions is critical in markets where smartphone penetration is low. “
The partnership is aligned with the government’s Tchad Connexion 2030 development agenda, which identifies digitalization and financial inclusion as enablers of economic diversification, increased revenue collection and private sector development. More broadly, the collaboration fits within IFC’s growing involvement in the Sahel, an area where the institution is focusing on financial services, agribusiness, digital connectivity and climate resilience.
Practical responses are already framed: IFC will work with Cashi to engage regulators and ecosystem partners to build trust and ensure interoperability across banks and telecom providers. Cashi intends to deploy its mix of mobile, POS and SMS tools to reach users and merchants in areas with limited internet access, while IFC will bring its experience deploying private‑sector solutions in challenging markets.
Back in N’Djamena, the announcement framed the partnership as a test of whether low‑tech, resilient payment architectures can change daily economic practices in a cash‑heavy economy. The effort leaves open key questions about the pace of adoption, regulatory coordination and how quickly small businesses will shift behavior—but it also offers a concrete, institutionally backed pathway toward broader financial inclusion.
