Muzambiringa and UNCDF present
Growing financial inclusion through agricultural innovation
We are looking for early-stage fintech and agri digital financial services (DFS) solutions that increase financial inclusion and improve economic outcomes for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs in Sierra Leone. The Challenge will identify, support and showcase high-potential solutions that address the cash-flow, seasonality and access barriers of the agricultural value chain.
Applications close
20 November 2026
Challenge summary
Presented by
In partnership with
Why this challenge
Financial institutions are concentrated in Freetown, Kenema and Bo. Reaching rural and under-served areas is costly, and most institutions have yet to build a business case for it.
The foundations are in place: a national payment switch, a regulatory sandbox and a fast-growing mobile money network. Yet cash still dominates retail payments in rural areas, where infrastructure constraints, agent liquidity shortages and digital literacy gaps hold back adoption.
About the challenge
To identify and accelerate early-stage fintech solutions, at prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) stage, that improve payment flows, financial management and formalisation for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs, increasing the uptake of useful digital financial services at scale.
The Challenge is part of the Salone Access to Finance project, jointly implemented by the Government of Sierra Leone, the European Union and UNCDF. It contributes to the project’s aim of improving rural access to digital financial services for payments, deposits and banking, especially for youth, women and people with disabilities.
UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It began its financial inclusion work in Sierra Leone in 2010 and showed what large-scale outreach could do during the 2014–2015 Ebola crisis, when it helped pay Ebola Response Workers. It works with the Bank of Sierra Leone, banks and other providers towards an inclusive, interoperable payments ecosystem, in line with the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2022–2026.
Use cases
Solutions should focus on agri digital financial services: digital payments and agritech use cases, including but not limited to these.
Digitising payments from buyers, such as agribusinesses and cooperatives, to smallholder farmers.
Digitising how farmers spend and save.
Digitally enabled agricultural insurance services.
Platforms that assess farmers’ credit using alternative and multiple data sources.
Online platforms that give farmers access to funds and credit from individuals.
Tools that help farmers keep track of farming activities, such as expenses and revenue.
Solutions that digitise processes, create efficiencies and keep data that can power value-added services, such as financial services, for farming communities.
Building in one of these areas?
Applications close 20 November 2026
Apply now (opens in a new tab)What you get
At least 10 shortlisted applicants
At least 3 finalists
Up toUS$35,000
The organisers take no equity as a condition of taking part.
Teams keep ownership of their intellectual property. Terms for any funded pilot or partnership are agreed separately.
Applicants cover their own travel and logistics unless otherwise specified.
Who can apply
The Challenge is open to fintech and agri DFS start-ups in Sierra Leone. To qualify, your start-up must:
Mandatory
Your solution must be at prototype or MVP stage, and you must be able to give a demo.
Not eligible
Solutions not related to agricultural payments or financial services, and solutions already in large-scale commercial deployment.
Your application
Apply through the online form. Your application should cover:
The problem you solve, and for whom.
Your product and its core features.
Who uses it, such as smallholder farmers, agri-SMEs or agents, and how.
How you make money, with your revenue assumptions and projections.
Who is on the team, their roles and relevant experience.
Your prototype or MVP, with a demo link, screenshots or a short video if available.
Any user testing, pilots or traction so far.
Selection
Step 1
Applications are checked against the mandatory criterion. Only those that meet it move on to shortlisting.
Step 2
A technical review scores each application against the weighted criteria. Only applicants scoring over 70% are shortlisted.
Step 3
Shortlisted start-ups join the accelerator and present at Demo Day. At least three finalists are then selected for grants.
How well the solution addresses at least one agri DFS challenge, such as smallholder record keeping or digital payments, with some evidence of adoption or demand.
A strong value proposition, clear revenue streams and demonstrated market demand, at a stage where the business can be supported to grow.
An experienced, committed team with clear decision-making and accountability, able to build and scale the solution.
How unique the solution is, how it stands out in the market, and its potential to scale.
Potential impact for agri-businesses, smallholder farmers and farming communities, including jobs created and the ability to attract follow-on funding.
A clear path to long-term viability, and the ability to keep operating beyond the funding.
Applicants need a score above 70% to be shortlisted.
Key dates
Dates are tentative and may change.
20 November 2026
Nov 2026
Screening and desk review, then the shortlist is announced.
Late Nov 2026 – 8 Jan 2027
Technical assistance, mentorship and coaching for shortlisted start-ups.
15 Jan 2027
Shortlisted start-ups present their solutions.
Jan 2027
Finalists are selected and grant contracts signed.
From Jan 2027
Winners kick off their pilots.
Expectations
Start-ups selected for the programme are expected to produce:
Complete the online application form before the closing date. Have your documents and demo materials ready before you start.
Closes 20 November 2026
Questions?hello@muzambiringa.org
Scan to open the form
bit.ly/SLFINTECH2026
