Airtel Zambia & UN Capital Development Fund partner to strengthen digital financial services across the country

The Last Mile Distribution project which will be implemented in 6 Provinces include the Copperbelt, North Western, Luapula, Western, Northern and

Southern and aims to provide connectivity of Airtel Money to every site. To aid the project’s success, Airtel Money will improve on the number of products and services for Airtel Money customers in these sites especially targeting those who previously were unable to connect to Airtel Money.

Airtel Money will also provide their agents with an innovative access to electronic float (E-Float) with the aim of improving their transactions and enhancing limits which will help them serve their customers with ease.

Speaking on the new project, Airtel Money Director, James Chona said he is confident the partnership will improve digital finance and inclusivity within the two provinces.

“We are excited to launch the ‘Last Mile Distribution’ with the UNCDF. This project aims to provide digital financial services to Zambians living in deep rural and remote areas. The project builds on the investment we have made in the country over the years by building necessary infrastructure thus, expanding digital finance and providing the necessary support to achieving financial inclusion. COVID-19 has been a major drive to this project, and we are willing to do more to make sure that our customers can transact without any hindrances.” Mr Chona said.

And UNCDF Country Lead Isaac Holly said: “To successfully promote digital economies that leave no one behind, UNCDF depends on partnerships. We know we cannot do this work alone. Partnerships are important to us. We partnered with Airtel in the past, and working together again shows how meaningful our collaboration has been. This new collaboration with Airtel is one that improves digital and financial inclusion for Zambians living in remote or hard-to-reach areas.”

The ‘Last Mile Distribution’ project will be integral to increase financial inclusion and improve rural digital financial literacy. In addition, agents can now receive e -float necessary to run their Airtel Money shops and reduces their dormancy rates thereby increasing their profitability and boosts their community’s economy.

The Airtel Money and UNCDF partnership is integral to building a cashless economy in rural areas and further supports the Government of Zambia’s effort to curb COVID-19. It further improves the circulation of money in the country with a focus of building a more robust digital financial service industry.

       -ENDS-

Media enquiries

Yuyo Nachali-Kambikambi (Mrs.)

Head of Corporate Communications

Email: pr.ccgc@zm.airtel.com

Mali Kambandu (Ms)

Knowledge Management and Communications Consultant

Email: malingose.kambandu@uncdf.org

About Airtel Africa

Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries in Africa, primarily in East Africa and Central and West Africa.

Airtel Africa offers an integrated suite of telecommunications solutions to its subscribers, including mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services both nationally and internationally.

The Group aims to continue providing a simple and intuitive customer experience through streamlined customer journeys.

www.airtel.africa

About UNCDF

The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs).

UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; (2) local development finance, which capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.