Digital credit products are rapidly emerging in the digital financial services (DFS) market as a new, innovative form of accessing electronic money. Digital credit products differ from traditional forms of credit, using smart and feature phone technology or web platforms to register, score, approve, and distribute loans to borrowers.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), over 60% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods. The FAO also reports that approximately three-quarters of those living below the poverty line live in rural, primarily agricultural, areas. Despite the importance of agriculture, many rural and agricultural households lack access to financial products and services that would allow them to build assets, invest in technology, increase productivity, and cope with shocks such as droughts.