Kifiya Financial Technology Plc
Human-Centric Digital Transformation
Information
Company Description
Kifiya is an Ethiopian-founded AI-driven decisioning, financial, and market infrastructure company operating nationally with regional hubs in Kenya and South Africa. The company builds AI, data, and operating systems that enable financial institutions to serve underserved and hard-to-finance segments at scale.
Team
Kifiya is supported by a multidisciplinary team of over 730 professionals across AI engineering, data science, financial architecture, risk analytics, capital structuring, and institutional partnerships.
The leadership team brings deep expertise in financial services, technology infrastructure, and development finance. The company operates with strong governance frameworks, including risk and compliance systems, data governance and cybersecurity standards, portfolio monitoring tools, and independent audit controls.
Kifiya works closely with commercial banks, regulators, development finance institutions, and ecosystem partners to ensure institutional alignment and scalable impact.
Countries of Operation
Ethiopia; Kenya; South Africa
Ownership of Company
Local Company
Number of years since incorporated
14 Years
Stage
Growth stage
Annual Revenue (in EUR)
EUR 10,000,000 – 100,000,000
Number of employees
More than 500
Project Pitch
This initiative aims to unlock sustainable finance for 450,000 Ethiopian MSMEs and smallholder farmers by strengthening the country’s financial, risk, and capital infrastructure. Despite existing liquidity in the banking system, financial institutions lack scalable risk assessment tools and distribution capacity to serve informal and thin-file borrowers.
The project introduces AI-driven credit scoring, early warning systems, and interoperable digital lending infrastructure across eight commercial banks, enabling expansion into underserved segments while maintaining strong portfolio performance.
An €80 million EFSD+ portfolio guarantee will catalyze domestic lending through a declining first-loss structure, mobilizing up to €300 million in lending portfolios. This is complemented by a €10 million Technical Assistance Facility and a €10 million Climate & Resilience Window to support ESG integration and climate-aligned lending.
Kifiya acts as the infrastructure partner, embedding AI systems within financial institutions and managing blended finance mechanisms. The initiative will mobilize private capital, expand inclusive finance, and support approximately 1.35 million jobs and livelihoods.
Total Project Cost (in EUR)
EUR 100,000,000
Financing needs (in EUR)
EUR 100,000,000
Type of financing needed
Debt, Grant, Guarantee Facility (Risk Sharing Instrument)
Planned allocation of fundraising capital
Expansion (expanding an existing activity)