A new report from the GSM Association (GSMA) has highlighted Safaricom's Pochi la Biashara platform as a key example of how mobile money services can empower women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. The report, focused on the role of mobile technology in advancing women's financial inclusion, points to the Kenyan operator's business-focused product as a tool helping to address persistent gender gaps in access to credit and formal financial services.
Pochi la Biashara, launched by Safaricom in 2023, is a digital banking platform integrated within the M-Pesa ecosystem designed specifically for small businesses. It allows merchants to separate their personal and business finances, access credit, and manage transactions through a dedicated business till number. The GSMA's analysis suggests such tailored services are critical for women entrepreneurs, who often face higher barriers to securing capital and building financial track records compared to their male counterparts.
"The potential for mobile money to serve as a catalyst for women's economic empowerment is significant," a GSMA spokesperson said in the report. "Platforms that move beyond basic person-to-person transfers to offer integrated business tools, like accounting and credit, can help formalize operations and build the financial history needed for larger loans." The report notes that while mobile money adoption has grown rapidly across Sub-Saharan Africa, a gender gap in usage persists, with women less likely to use mobile money for advanced services beyond sending and receiving money.
Safaricom, East Africa's largest telecommunications provider, has built its commercial success on the widespread adoption of M-Pesa, which revolutionized payments in Kenya after its 2007 launch. The introduction of Pochi la Biashara represents a strategic move deeper into the SME sector, a market segment long underserved by traditional banks. The platform's integration with M-Pesa's vast agent network and its user base of over 30 million in Kenya provides a ready-made infrastructure for scaling business services.
Kenya's context as a leader in mobile money penetration makes it a focal point for studies on financial inclusion. The Central Bank of Kenya has supported an enabling regulatory environment that allowed M-Pesa to flourish, and the country consistently ranks high in metrics for adult access to financial services. However, studies have shown that women, particularly those running micro-enterprises, still encounter difficulties accessing larger, formal loans necessary for business growth.
The GSMA report argues that data generated through consistent use of platforms like Pochi la Biashara could help bridge this gap. By creating a digital footprint of business transactions, repayment histories, and cash flows, women entrepreneurs can establish creditworthiness with financial institutions. This data-centric approach to lending is seen as a potential solution to the collateral requirements that often exclude small business owners, especially women, from traditional banking channels.
Industry observers note that the success of such models depends on continued innovation and affordability. "The real test will be whether these platforms can offer credit at scales and rates that are truly transformative for micro-enterprises," said an analyst familiar with East African fintech. "The functionality is a step forward, but the economic impact will be determined by the terms of the financial products built on top of it."
The spotlight from the GSMA underscores a broader trend across African fintech, where operators are increasingly developing segmented products for merchants, farmers, and other specific user groups. As the market matures, moving from mass-market payment solutions to targeted financial services for business customers is seen as the next frontier for growth and deeper financial inclusion.