South Africa-based money transfer platform, Mukuru, has distributed aid to disadvantaged recipients in Africa, helping people impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and other economic issues.
Mukuru is using its platforms to help businesses transfer cash around the countries it currently operates, using its existing network. It also has plans to roll out aid transfers to more countries as it helps several UN organisations and other aid NGOs such as the United Nations Children’s Fund, Food and Agricultural Association, Red Cross, and Oxfam.
Mukuru has rapidly expanded its enterprise services across Southern Africa, with a specific focus on Zimbabwe, where there is an acute need for assistance. This need is exemplified by its long-standing work with World Food Programme (WFP) project aid officials at the Tongogara Refugee Camp, where it distributes aid to thousands of vulnerable refugees, alongside support for the community. Here, it employs four staff from the camp to assist with service provision and has donated books and stationery.
Kevin Nyakotyo, enterprise sales manager at Mukuru, explained: “Positive feedback from WFP at Tongogara has given us the opportunity to expand to other camps in Zimbabwe, and we have also been contracted by other NGOs that assist with bulk cash disbursements within the Tongogara Refugee Camp, such as World Vision, Church World Services, and Childline.
“Mukuru currently offers a much-needed service in Zimbabwe. As many banks are closing branches, Mukuru is consistently expanding its network of Mukuru-owned and partner payout locations to ensure exceptional urban and rural reach across the country.”
Keeping transfers secure
Mukuru is currently onboarding clients across its extensive African footprint, using its reach and capabilities to ensure on-time payments for millions, and building capabilities in newer markets such as Uganda, where it launched outbound and inbound remittance services this year.
Michael Scott, group head of commercial at Mukuru, explains that institutional aid donors insist on strict audit and accountability standards when funding cash disbursement projects, as corruption and poor governance can easily erode the value intended for delivery to vulnerable recipients: “Our money transfer system allows for end-to-end traceability, ensuring that aid organisations can be audited without worrying about oversights in accountability.
“It also means that, on the off chance that there is fraud, this can quickly be identified and resolved. This accountability is enabled through its ability to identify and digitally capture the details of recipients in real-time at the point of cash disbursement, storing uniquely identifiable recipient information for inspection by enterprise clients; auditors can verify a collection against digital copies of the recipient’s identity document and collection slip.”
