Chama Smart Hub: Digital savings groups for refugees
Challenge
Nairobi hosts nearly 90,000 refugees who face major barriers to economic inclusion. With limited access to formal financial systems, many rely on chamas (informal savings groups), yet weak record-keeping, low transparency, and minimal institutional links hinder business growth, restrict funding, and limit socioeconomic integration.
Solution
Youth Voices Community is establishing a digital USSD platform to transform refugee-led savings groups into transparent, credible, and scalable financial actors. The initiative combines an online application for smartphone users and a USSD code for basic phone users, ensuring inclusivity. Core features include digital record-keeping, performance dashboards, automated reports, AI chatbot support, peer-learning forums, and annual awards.
Impact
A developed and operational Chama Smart digital platform, providing financial services to at least 20 refugee and host community chamas (200 people). By the end of the project, these chamas will have increased savings, better financial management, and enhanced credibility among refugee entrepreneurs.