Vodafone M-Pesa Mozambique, the mobile financial services platform, and GIZ, the German development cooperation agency, strengthened on Thursday, 4 December, their commitment to expanding digital solutions and promoting financial inclusion in rural areas. The partnership was formalised with the signing of a new memorandum of understanding that will benefit small-scale farmers, micro and small enterprises, women and young people.
During the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of Vodafone M-Pesa, Sérgio Gomes, stated that the memorandum represents “the renewal of our commitment to GIZ, to our customers and to Mozambique,” stressing that the agreement continues the work of “expanding financial inclusion and continuing to have impact.” Sérgio Gomes recalled that the mission of the M-Pesa mobile wallet has been to transform access to financial services by extending digital solutions to thousands of citizens and businesses across the country.
Explaining the scope of the partnership, he said the new memorandum aims to develop a sustainable and inclusive financial ecosystem, combining innovation with specialised technical expertise. “We shall design new financial products and services tailored to the real needs of rural communities, conducting pilot tests to assess their relevance and scalability,” he stated, adding that the initiatives will be designed to be replicated in different regions of the country.
Another key pillar of the collaboration is financial education. Sérgio Gomes emphasised that digital services only have a transformative impact when communities fully understand how they work. For this reason, financial literacy initiatives will be implemented to equip citizens and entrepreneurs with the tools to better manage their resources, plan investments and make decisions that contribute to more sustainable economic growth.
The Managing Director of Vodafone M-Pesa also highlighted the strategic role of the mobile wallet’s agent and merchant network, which is essential for expanding access to financial services, particularly for farmers, small entrepreneurs and rural families. He acknowledged that challenges persist, but stressed that “the strength of this partnership lies in the union of complementary expertise,” combining GIZ’s technical experience with M-Pesa’s innovation and implementation capacity.
For her part, the Director of GIZ’s Private Sector Development and Financial Systems Programme, Silke Hansen, said the agreement “marks a significant milestone” in the joint efforts to promote financial inclusion and strengthen agricultural activities. “This collaboration is not only about financial services; it is truly about transforming lives and communities, promoting economic growth, especially in rural areas,” said Silke Hansen.
She further highlighted that the partnership aligns with Mozambique’s Financial Inclusion Strategy 2025–31 and the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Sector Development 2030. She added that the joint work will support the creation of products such as microcredit, savings options, insurance and pensions, as well as the testing of innovative distribution models in rural areas. “We believe that communities will have access to affordable, customer-centred services backed by financial education,” she concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
