Thousands of seaweed farmers in Zanzibar, most of them women, are set to gain easier access to digital payments, savings and financing services under a new partnership between Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), Mixx and Yas Business.
The initiative is expected to help small-scale farmers receive payments securely and on time while giving them access to financial tools that could help them save, obtain capital and expand their businesses.
The partnership, signed in Zanzibar on Thursday, September 17, 2026, will initially cover farmers participating in ZMBF’s Seaweed Socio-Enterprise Programme, with the partners also planning to extend digital solutions to other programmes targeting communities across the islands.
Zanzibar Minister for Communication, Information Technology and Innovation, Mr Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, said the use of digital technology could expand economic opportunities for women and young people.
“We want to see women and young people engaged in economic activities, particularly seaweed farmers, benefiting from technology,” he said.
He said the partnership would make financial services easier to access while improving transparency in payments and creating opportunities for beneficiaries to improve their livelihoods.
For Mixx, the partnership goes beyond replacing cash payments with digital transactions.
Mixx Chief Executive Officer Angelica Pesha said farmers needed financial services that could help them build sustainable businesses after receiving their payments.
“For a seaweed farmer, receiving money safely and on time is important, but that should not be the end of it,” Ms Pesha said.
“We want her to also have access to services that can help her save, access capital and grow her business.”
Farmers will be able to use services including Kilimo Pesa and Mixx Kikoba, which provide financial solutions for farmers and community savings groups.
The partnership builds on Mixx's existing work with farmers in Zanzibar through its collaboration with the Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC).
According to Mixx, more than TZS48 billion was paid to clove farmers through its digital platform last year, enabling farmers to receive payments directly on their mobile phones.
The company said it had also contributed TZS350 million towards insurance coverage for clove farmers over the past three years and distributed 25,000 clove seedlings free of charge to farmers in Zanzibar in 2026.
Ms Pesha said the experience could be extended to seaweed farmers, particularly by linking digital payments with savings and access to capital.
Beyond agriculture, Mixx is also the digital payments partner for ZanBus electric buses, while its Mixx Kikoba platform enables community groups to save, contribute funds, purchase shares and lend money among members digitally.
Under the agreement, Mixx will also support other ZMBF programmes through digital registration, payments and fundraising for the Mariam Mwinyi Walkathon.
The partners will further explore digital solutions for health initiatives, including the Afya Bora Medical Camps, according to the agreement.
Yas Business Chief Officer Norman Kiondo said his company would provide connectivity and digital systems to support implementation and monitoring of ZMBF programmes.
“We will work with ZMBF to strengthen connectivity, internet services and digital systems that will make registration, reporting and programme monitoring easier,” Mr Kiondo said.
He said the aim was to ensure technology helped beneficiaries access services rather than creating additional barriers.
“For a seaweed farmer, someone attending a medical camp or a citizen seeking support, technology should make it easier to access the service they need,” he said.
ZMBF Chief Executive Officer Rehema Tukai said integrating financial services into the seaweed programme would help farmers move beyond simply receiving payments.
“We want seaweed farmers not only to receive their payments more easily, but also to develop a savings culture, access capital and grow their economic activities,” Ms Tukai said.
She said digital platforms would also enable ZMBF to reach more beneficiaries while improving the management and monitoring of its programmes across Zanzibar.