I M P R O V I N G L I V E S T H R O U G H I N N O VAT I V E M I C R O F I N A N C E

AND MOBILE BANKING SOLUTIONS

Tujijenge Afrika - GSBI™ Class of 2010

Headquarters: Dar es Salaam, Problem Statement:

Tanzania
In Tanzania 90% of the population does not have access to finan-
Established: 2006 cial services, and even more people live without electricity and
health care. A lack of competitive and robust microfinance institu-
Impact Areas: Tanzania and tions has inhibited innovation in the sector, causing people to rely
Uganda
on expensive financing alternatives that perpetuate a lifestyle of
Type: Hybrid poverty.

Sector: Microfinance
Staff Size: 120+
Annual Budget: $1.5 million
Major Funders: Triple Jump,
E+CO, Unitus, Deutsche Bank, Grass-
roots Capital, Cordaid, Oxfam Novib
Awards: 2010 Lighting Africa Award
Winner for partnership with D.Light
2010 Recognized by CGAP as one of
leading MFI’s in microfinance industry
for mobile banking
2010 Represented Tanzanian microfi-
nance industry at the World Economic
Forum in Dar-es-Salaam

Theory of Change:
Tujijenge Afrika increases income lev-
els and improves lives by leveraging
mobile banking with energy, health-
care, and agriculture microfinance.
Solution:
The Tujijenge Afrika family of microfinance institutions (MFIs)
provides microfinance products through a mobile banking system
that is safe, secure and low cost. Tujijenge improves the lives of
low income, rural and urban clients in East Africa with services
that are not typically covered by other financial institutions.

“While over 20,000 people have benefited from Tujijenge’s regular credit and savings prod-
ucts, we at Tujijenge have developed innovative energy, health care and agriculture micro-
finance products that are making an even greater economic impact than traditional microfi-
nance.” - Jon Charles Gore, Business Development Executive

| www.tujijengeafrika.org | tujijengetanzania@tujijenge.org | + 255 22 2701 025 |

 I M P R O V I N G L I V E S T H R O U G H I N N O VAT I V E M I C R O F I N A N C E
AND MOBILE BANKING SOLUTIONS

Milestones Achieved: Impact to Date:

2006: Started first microfinance opera-
tions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2008: Improved internal controls and
updated banking software to prevent
fraud and improve efficiencies
2009: Became the first and exclusive
mobile banking provider in Tanzania
2009: Started Tujijenge Uganda, a
rural based MFI that provides agricul-
ture products
2010: Grew our Tanzania portfolio
outstanding to $3 million
• Provided over 20,000 microloans to entrepreneurs in East
Africa
• Offered easy and affordable access to health care for large
segments of the population previously untouched ($100 for
a family of five covers regular insurance)
• Established a mobile banking system for clients to safely
and conveniently repay their loans
• Partnered with two innovative solar energy companies to
provide access to light in villages and off grid locations
Revenues vs. Costs

Growth Plan:
2010 to 2011: Scale up mobile bank-
ing services in Tanzania to allow for
nationwide services
2011: Become regulated as a formal
bank in Tanzania
Total Clients vs. Cost per Borrower
2012: Merge our two Tanzanian MFIs
2012: Begin operations in Burundi
2014: Begin operations in Democratic
Republic of Congo

“Because of Tujijenge I now manage

to earn enough to support my family
and school-going children. Previ-
ously, I was scared about the future,
but now, I will be opening another
salon later this year. For this I thank
Tujijenge for caring for me.” - Mama
Hans, 3-year customer and Salon
owner in Dar es Salaam.
Investment Required:
Equity for two institutions totaling $800k in 2010 – 2011
Debt for two institutions totaling $4 million in 2010 – 2013
Grants totaling $100k for product development and rural expan-
sion in 2010 – 2011.

This profile was developed during the 2010 Global Social Benefit Incubator™, the signature program of
Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology and Society.
Updated 8/26/2010. www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi

| www.tujijengeafrika.org | tujijengetanzania@tujijenge.org | + 255 22 2701 025 |