Mastercard, MTN Group, and Arifu Empower One Million SMEs in Africa

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, MTN Group Fintech, and Arifu have partnered to uplift nearly one million small businesses in Cote d’lvoire and Uganda through the MoMo Coach chatbot.

Through this partnership, the trio companies are aiming to digitize their operations as well as increasing the use of digital financial services to enhance access to digital marketplaces, which in the long run, will bolster the flexibility and growth of small businesses by providing essential digital skills, addressing barriers they face in adopting digital tools and accessing financial services.

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The MoMo Coach solution, powered by Arifu’s Grasp Platform, delivers micro-learning experiences through mobile messaging across multiple channels, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, SMS, and MoMo.

This flexibility will enable small entrepreneurs and business owners to access practical, actionable tips to unlock growth opportunities in the digital economy. The program has been rolled out in Côte d’lvoire and Uganda, reaching over 930,000 MTN customers, merchants, and agents, with more than 75,000 small business owners accessing free digital courses and over 45,000 actively engaging with MoMo Coach.

Courses offered include “How to Start Your Business, ‘Money Management,” and “Grow and “Secure Your Business.’ These courses, according to the three companies, are based on insights derived from MoMo merchants and agents, and they address key challenges like affordability and access to relevant business knowledge-enabling small business owners to navigate the digital landscape.