African Facility: technical assistance for GRAINE SARL

© Didier Gentilhomme

The African Facility is a mechanism set up in 2013 by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, in partnership with theFrench Development Agency (AFD), to support rural microfinance institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

A look back at this program through the testimony of Eléonore Marie Céline Compaore-Gyebre, Manager of GRAINE SARL.

Founded in 2006, the Burkinabe microfinance institution GRAINE SARL (Investment and Savings Support Group) is a Tier 3 organization (credit portfolio < 10 million USD). At the end of December 2020, GRAINE SARL offered group and individual credit products to 17,926 clients, mainly women (75%), living in rural areas (66%), for an outstanding credit of €4.9 million.

As part of the African Facility technical assistance program, GRAINE SARL received support throughout its digital transformation process. Consultant Thomas Carrié assisted the institution with the implementation of new integrated cloud-based information management software, secure data migration, and user training.

Why was the implementation of a new Information and Management System (MIS) important for GRAINE SARL?

By 2018, we had reached a level of growth that required more powerful information management software than the one we were using. Consolidating data and producing reporting had become unachievable within the required timeframe. In addition, given the extent of the network (6 branches and 29 service points), we wanted to develop innovative financial products to better meet customer needs and improve our profitability. The acquisition of new integrated software allowed us to interconnect all the counters as well as the head office. This tool allowed us to have a consolidated view of the information collected in the field in real time, to make data collection more reliable, to secure it and to develop new products.

What did you expect from the consultant? Did the results meet your expectations?

Beyond the acquisition of this new software, we needed someone with a deep understanding of the microfinance sector and the issues surrounding digitalization. Thomas Carrié, working with Yempabou Samuel Nidjergou, based in Ouagadougou, provided excellent support, from defining our needs to configuring and deploying the software. They then helped us manage data migration and user training, all while respecting the deadlines! We are very satisfied with the service, both in terms of the consultants' expertise and interpersonal skills.

What is your assessment of this mission and what could have been the areas for improvement?

Previously, each counter operated in a non-centralized manner, and the GIS was cumbersome. Since everything was manual, verification was difficult and the risk of error high. Furthermore, monitoring and maintaining all the servers was expensive. Centralizing data using the new cloud-based GIS allows us to monitor the status of operations on a daily basis and guarantee the security and reliability of the information collected. The GIS has thus saved us time, money, and security. We are now completely satisfied with it, even if updates are sometimes faulty due to power outages or poor internet connectivity in the country.

Have you improved customer satisfaction or developed new products or services using GIS?

The reliability of the information is now optimal, and we obtain 90% of customer satisfaction. The new GIS has allowed us to offer new local services such as the digitalization of tontine collection (daily savings collection).), the establishment of the SMS Banking[1] and the ability to make credit disbursements or savings deposits regardless of the service point. We want to strengthen the digitalization of information collection. To this end, we will equip our agents with digital tablets so that they can record all information concerning potential customers in the field.

[1] THE SMS Banking is a form of Mobile Banking allowing MFIs to send messages to their clients' mobile phones. This service also allows clients to carry out certain operations via SMS (for example: making a savings deposit or withdrawal).