A new partnership between Enda Tamweel, a microfinance institution in Tunisia, and The Hashgraph Association, a Swiss-based non-profit, has launched a Hedera-powered loyalty program. This initiative represents one of the first implementations of Hedera’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) within the microfinance sector in Africa and the Middle East.
The loyalty program integrates directly with Enda Tamweel’s existing systems through application programming interfaces (APIs). This compatibility enables a seamless rollout, creating a transparent and traceable loyalty ecosystem where crucial transactions are securely recorded on the Hedera network. By utilizing Hedera’s DLT technology, the aim is to encourage positive behaviors among clients by providing rewards backed by trust and transparency.
Mohamed Zmandar, CEO of Enda Tamweel, underscored the importance of looking beyond basic access to credit. The new program not only rewards clients for timely loan repayments but also promotes responsible microfinance practices by recognizing positive social and environmental behaviors. Zmandar stated that sustainable financial inclusion demands fostering long-term relationships with customers that yield meaningful results. He emphasized that embedding transparency in the loyalty system enhances trust and positions microfinance as a driver for sustainable growth.
Microfinance plays a critical role across Africa and the Middle East, especially for communities and individuals often excluded from traditional financial systems, including rural populations and small businesses. The African microfinance market is experiencing rapid growth, with projections suggesting it could exceed $300 billion by 2026.
In Tunisia, Enda Tamweel commands the leading market position, serving over 544,000 active clients and accounting for 79 percent of the national microfinance market. The institution expects the new digital loyalty program to attract approximately 120,000 new clients annually through an innovative referral feature. Ultimately, the program is designed to serve Enda Tamweel’s 1.3 million historical beneficiaries, who have received 5.6 million loans amounting to $4.2 billion in disbursements.
Kamal Youssefi, president of The Hashgraph Association, spoke to the platform’s potential for broader regional impact. He stated that by supporting Enda Tamweel in creating a straightforward and trustworthy loyalty solution, the partnership transforms benefits into tangible rewards. Youssefi noted that this Hedera-powered solution could be scaled across various industry sectors throughout the African continent, enhancing its impact.
