DGRV supports cooperative microfinance institutions in Benin in building the digital foundations for more secure, accessible and efficient financial services. By strengthening technological capacities and exploring shared solutions, the initiative helps advance financial inclusion and reinforce the country’s cooperative financial sector.
For many clients of microfinance institutions in Benin, financial transactions still require a visit to a physical branch. Sending money, making payments or accessing account information can be time-consuming and costly, particularly for people living in rural areas.
To address these challenges, DGRV is supporting its cooperative partners FECECAM-BENIN (Fédération des Caisses d’Épargne et de Crédit Agricole Mutuel du Bénin) and RENACA-BENIN (Réseau National des Caisses Villageoises d’Épargne et de Crédit Autogérées du Bénin) on their digital transformation journey. Together with ANSSFD, Benin’s National Agency for the Supervision of Decentralized Financial Systems, the initiative aims to strengthen the technological foundations needed to provide more secure, accessible and efficient financial services to millions of people.
“Before the introduction of digital processes, many routine transactions had to be handled manually. Today, we are preparing our institution to offer faster and more convenient services to our members,” says Gilbert AMEGBLETO, Head of Sales, Marketing and Communications at FECECAM-BENIN.
By the end of 2025, the country’s 103 microfinance institutions were serving 4.37 million people, almost half of them women. RENACA-BENIN and FECECAM-BENIN alone have around 1.74 million members, illustrating the significant reach of cooperative financial institutions in the country.
The modernization of the microfinance sector, including its savings and credit cooperatives, is being driven not only by customer expectations but also by a new regulatory framework.
Benin’s new microfinance law requires institutions to establish secure and reliable information systems capable of ensuring data integrity, business continuity as well as effective reporting to their governing bodies and supervisory authorities. As a result, digital transformation is no longer simply an option; it has become a strategic necessity for microfinance institutions.
Modern core banking systems play a central role in this process. They provide the technological backbone needed to manage customer accounts, transactions and financial information efficiently and securely.
A key component of this transformation is the infrastructure established by the Central Bank to connect different financial institutions and their payment systems. It will allow customers to send and receive money even when the sender and recipient hold their accounts with different institutions. This creates new opportunities for microfinance institutions to offer digital payment services without having to invest in costly payment infrastructure of their own.
Although mobile money services have expanded rapidly across West Africa, many systems still operate independently and are not directly connected to accounts held with banks or microfinance institutions. As a result, many customers still have to visit physical branches or service points to carry out their everyday financial transactions.
Digitalization requires significant investments in technology, skills and organizational change. Beyond the technical implementation, institutions must strengthen cybersecurity, train their staff and prepare customers for new ways of accessing financial services.
To support this process, DGRV works with its partners to:
Together with adorsys, a technology partner with experience in the German cooperative sector, DGRV has developed a hybrid training programme that equips IT and banking professionals with the knowledge and skills required to implement and operate modern banking systems.
An additional focus of the project is to explore opportunities for developing shared digital infrastructure for the microfinance sector.
On behalf of the supervisory authority ANSSFD, a feasibility study has been commissioned to assess the development of a shared electronic Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC) platform. Such a solution could help institutions verify customer identities more efficiently while reducing costs and improving regulatory compliance.
This cooperative approach reflects a key principle of the German cooperative financial sector: institutions can achieve greater efficiency and resilience when they work together and share infrastructure.
“The strategic and organizational insights shared by the German cooperative financial network have helped FECECAM-BENIN align its IT strategy with future digitalization requirements. This support will be instrumental in maintaining our competitiveness and continuing to serve our members effectively,” emphasizes Taïrou BASSABI AMADOU, General Manager of FECECAM-BENIN.
Across the financial sector, there is a clear trend toward cloud-based technologies and open platforms. These solutions offer greater flexibility, scalability and security while reducing the need for large upfront investments. For Benin’s microfinance sector, they may provide the foundation for a future shared core banking system, strengthening both operational efficiency and financial inclusion.
By supporting financial institutions, regulators and other sector stakeholders throughout this transformation process, DGRV helps create the conditions for more accessible financial services, stronger cooperative institutions and greater financial inclusion. In this way, digitalization becomes more than a technological upgrade: it becomes a driver of economic participation and sustainable development in Benin.
30. April 2026
Twelve women in Kenya’s cooperative sector transformed their leadership potential through mentorship, creating ripple effects in their communities. In Kenya, a 15-month mentorship journey empowered twelve women to take on leadership roles and inspire change in their cooperatives.
8. January 2026
During the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, cooperation among cooperatives moved from principle to practice. A multi-stakeholder exchange in Southern Africa illustrated how long-term dialogue, trust-based partnerships, and shared values translate cooperative ideas into sustainable, people-centred impact.
31. October 2025
Pretoria – Ten years ago, South Africa’s food safety and bakery sector gained an unlikely champion. What began as a DGRV division to help struggling bakeries has grown into the Bakery & Food Technology Incubator of South Africa (BICSA) – the country’s only dedicated food technology incubator, now marking a decade of formal operation.