Enda Tamweel, a leading microfinance institution in Tunisia, has announced the launch of a new digital loyalty program in collaboration with the Hashgraph Association, a Swiss-based non-profit organization focused on digital empowerment and innovation through the Hedera ecosystem.
The program introduces a new approach to customer engagement by rewarding clients who repay loans on time, while also encouraging environmentally and socially responsible behaviors. This impact-based model goes beyond traditional transaction-driven incentives, aiming to align financial discipline with positive community outcomes.
Leveraging Distributed Ledger Technology for Transparency
The initiative marks one of the first deployments of Hedera’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) within the microfinance sector across Africa and the Middle East. The solution integrates seamlessly with Enda Tamweel’s existing systems through APIs, enabling efficient rollout and operational scalability.
By recording key transactions on the Hedera network, the platform ensures transparency, traceability, and trust. This structure enhances accountability while supporting future expansion across broader financial ecosystems.
Microfinance as a Growth Engine in Africa
Microfinance continues to serve as a critical lifeline for underserved populations excluded from traditional banking systems. It plays a vital role in supporting small businesses and individuals, particularly in rural areas.
The African microfinance market is experiencing rapid growth and is expected to surpass $300 billion by 2026. In this context, digital innovation is becoming essential to improving service delivery and expanding financial inclusion across the region.
Enda Tamweel’s Market Leadership in Tunisia
Enda Tamweel stands as the market leader in Tunisia’s microfinance sector, serving more than 544,000 clients and accounting for approximately 79% of the market. The launch of this loyalty program reflects the institution’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric financial solutions.
The company has aimed to design a system that recognizes not only financial reliability but also positive environmental and social contributions, creating a more holistic framework for client engagement.
Strategic Vision for Innovation and Inclusion
Kamal Youssefi, President of the Hashgraph Association, stated that the initiative aligns with the organization’s vision of enabling communities to live more sustainably, efficiently, and inclusively through digital innovation. He highlighted Hedera’s DLT as a key component of Web3 infrastructure.
Youssefi added that developing a simple and reliable loyalty system transforms abstract benefits into tangible rewards, with strong potential for replication across other sectors in Africa.
Mohamed Zmandar, CEO of Enda Tamweel, emphasized that the loyalty system is designed to recognize both financially reliable clients and those contributing to social and environmental impact. He noted that sustainable financial inclusion requires more than access to credit, focusing instead on building long-term, trust-based relationships.
Expected Impact and Future Growth
Hedera’s DLT infrastructure enables positive behavioral change by delivering transparent, inclusive, and verifiable incentives. Currently, Enda Tamweel supports around 1.3 million beneficiaries through 5.6 million loans, with total disbursements reaching $4.2 billion.
The new loyalty program is expected to attract approximately 120,000 new clients annually, driven by an integrated referral feature. This growth is likely to enhance the reach of digital financial services and deepen their socioeconomic impact.
Toward a More Sustainable Financial Model
The launch of this initiative reflects a broader shift in microfinance, where technology is integrated with social and environmental objectives to create meaningful value. It highlights how financial institutions can innovate while promoting sustainability and inclusion.
As digital transformation accelerates, such models represent a strategic pathway toward building more resilient and inclusive financial systems that effectively respond to evolving community needs.