What is the name of your organization?
MBAY'MI CONNECT2.0
What is the name of your solution?
MBAY'MI CONNECT
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Empowering smallholder farmers with AI-driven access to agricultural loans, real-time market insights, and financial inclusion for sustainable growth.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Sénégal
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
SEN
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Mbay'mi Connect addresses the financial exclusion of smallholder farmers, a critical issue limiting agricultural productivity and economic growth in Senegal and across Sub-Saharan Africa. In Senegal, over 80% of the population depends on agriculture, yet only 20% of farmers have access to formal financial services. This lack of financial inclusion prevents them from securing affordable loans to invest in quality seeds, equipment, and modern techniques, reducing yields and incomes.
Globally, over 500 million smallholder farmers face similar challenges, contributing to food insecurity and economic instability. The problem is exacerbated by several factors, including high-interest rates, lack of collateral, limited financial literacy, and an absence of digital financial services in rural areas. Additionally, unreliable access to market data and weather forecasts leads to poor decision-making, further jeopardizing farmers' livelihoods.
Mbay'mi Connect tackles these issues by providing a digital platform that connects farmers to microfinance institutions, offers real-time market insights, and delivers financial education. By bridging the gap between farmers and financial services, the platform promotes sustainable agricultural growth, improves food security, and enhances economic resilience in rural communities.
What is your solution?
Mbay'mi Connect is a digital platform designed to provide smallholder farmers with easy access to agricultural loans, real-time market insights, and financial education. It bridges the gap between farmers and financial institutions, ensuring they can secure affordable credit to invest in better farming inputs, equipment, and techniques.
The platform works through a mobile and web application that allows farmers to:
Apply for microloans from partnered financial institutions with minimal paperwork and no traditional collateral.
Receive real-time market prices and weather forecasts, helping them make informed farming decisions.
Access financial literacy training, improving their understanding of credit management and smart investment strategies.
Mbay'mi Connect uses AI-powered risk assessment to evaluate farmers' loan eligibility based on alternative credit scoring methods, including farm productivity and transaction history. The platform also integrates USSD technology, ensuring accessibility for farmers without smartphones or internet access.
By leveraging mobile banking, machine learning, and SMS notifications, Mbay'mi Connect empowers smallholder farmers to increase their productivity, boost incomes, and build financial resilience.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Mbay'mi Connect serves smallholder farmers in Senegal and across West Africa, particularly those in rural areas who face limited access to financing, market information, and financial literacy resources. These farmers, who make up over 60% of the agricultural workforce, struggle to secure loans due to a lack of formal credit history, collateral, and financial literacy, limiting their ability to invest in improved seeds, fertilizers, and modern equipment.
Women and young farmers are especially affected, as only 10% of rural women have access to financial services, and many young people lack the capital to start or sustain agricultural ventures.
Our platform provides accessible microloans, real-time market updates, and financial education via mobile and USSD technology. By enabling farmers to secure affordable credit, make informed decisions, and improve financial literacy, we help them increase productivity, stabilize incomes, and break free from cycles of poverty.
Ultimately, Mbay'mi Connect empowers rural farmers to build sustainable livelihoods, strengthen food security, and drive economic growth in their communities.