IFC: A Catalyst for Growth in Developing Countries
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) stands as the largest global development institution dedicated to fostering the private sector in developing countries. By championing growth, the IFC actively promotes economic development, generates employment opportunities, and ultimately improves the quality of life for people around the world.
How IFC Makes a Difference
The IFC’s approach to advancing economic development is multifaceted. It centers around strategically investing in impactful projects, attracting additional investors, and sharing valuable expertise. Operating in over 100 countries globally, the IFC leverages lessons learned across diverse regions to effectively address challenges and maximize its impact.
The organization’s impact is tangible, bringing a unique combination of advantages to the world’s most challenging markets. These include a proven history of innovation, a broad global mandate, and an unwavering commitment to achieving measurable development outcomes. Owned by 186 member countries and consistently holding a AAA/Aaa credit rating, the IFC is uniquely positioned to deliver on its mission.
IFC’s Financial Instruments
The IFC achieves its mission by providing both debt and equity financing to the private sector, utilizing a range of standardized and customized financial products. This flexible approach allows the IFC to tailor its support to the specific needs of each project and market.
Recent Partnership: IFC and Cashi in Chad
A recent press release highlighted a significant partnership between the IFC and Cashi, a fintech company focused on building digital payment infrastructure in Africa. This collaboration, announced on March 24, 2026, in N’Djamena, Chad, aims to expand access to financial services through interoperable solutions designed for areas with limited connectivity.
Cashi’s digital payment platform empowers users and businesses to seamlessly send and receive money via mobile phones, point-of-sale devices, and SMS-based tools. By connecting users with banks, telecom companies, and other financial institutions within a unified ecosystem, Cashi facilitates everyday transactions in an economy where cash remains dominant and access to formal financial services is limited.
Benefits for Small Businesses in Chad
For small businesses in Chad, this partnership translates to reduced constraints related to cash handling, lower transaction costs, and improved access to financial services – all crucial factors for revenue growth and job creation. Currently, only 10-15% of adults in Chad have a bank or mobile money account, significantly lower than the 30%+ average across sub-Saharan Africa.
“IFC’s upstream support allows us to adapt our proven, crisis-tested platform to the realities of central Africa,” said Tarneem Saeed, CEO of Cashi. “This partnership enables us to work closely with regulators and ecosystem partners, build trust with local merchants, and deliver practical financial tools that people can use in their daily lives, even in low-connectivity environments.”
Olivier Buyoya, IFC Division Director for West Africa, emphasized the importance of expanding access to digital financial services through innovative, tailored solutions, particularly in markets with low smartphone penetration. “This project underscores IFC’s commitment to support accessible, low‑tech, and resilient architecture solutions that boost access to finance for individuals and businesses in the Sahel more broadly.”
Alignment with Chad’s Development Agenda
This partnership directly supports the government of Chad’s “Tchad Connexion 2030” development agenda, which prioritizes digitalization and financial inclusion as key drivers of economic diversification, increased revenue collection, and private sector growth.
IFC’s Growing Presence in the Sahel Region
This collaboration exemplifies the IFC’s increasing engagement in the Sahel region, with a focus on critical areas such as financial services, agribusiness, digital connectivity, and climate resilience.
About IFC
As a member of the World Bank Group, the IFC is the leading global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We operate in over 100 countries, leveraging our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. In fiscal year 2025, the IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions, mobilizing private sector solutions for a world free of poverty and a livable planet. Learn more at www.ifc.org.
About Cashi
Cashi is a digital payments platform dedicated to building essential financial infrastructure in frontier and underbanked markets. Its platform addresses the challenges of digital infrastructure bottlenecks in cash-dependent economies by offering a suite of financial products and services designed for resilience and reliability.
