We are proud to share that CoAmana has been featured in Small Foundation’s 2024 Impact Report, showcasing how our work is transforming the lives of informal traders across Africa.

One such story is that of Lucy Nyambura, a produce trader at City Park Market in Nairobi. For over 20 years, Lucy has faced the same barrier that millions of small-scale traders encounter every day: lack of access to affordable credit. With traditional banks reluctant to lend to informal businesses, and predatory lenders filling the gap, growth has often felt out of reach.

That changed when Lucy joined CoAmana. With access to affordable credit and a stronger supply chain, Lucy has been able to purchase more stock, expand her turnover, and steadily grow her business. Her consistent repayments have allowed her credit line to expand—unlocking a cycle of growth and resilience. Lucy’s journey illustrates a powerful truth: when small businesses have the capital they need, the impact is transformative.

At CoAmana, our mission is to make that transformation accessible at scale. Through the Amana Market app, we are digitising marketplaces and embedding inclusive financial services into the everyday transactions of traders and farmers. By enabling access to credit, better sourcing, and verifiable financial records, we are helping traders—particularly women, who make up the majority of informal traders—build stronger businesses and more secure futures.

By combining digital innovation with the trusted practices of local markets, CoAmana is bridging the gap between informal trade and formal finance. In doing so, we are contributing to more coordinated, efficient, and resilient rural economies in Nigeria, Kenya, and beyond.

We are grateful to Small Foundation for recognizing our work and to the traders and farmers who continue to inspire us every day. Lucy’s story is just one example of what’s possible when inclusive finance and digitised trade come together—and we are just getting started.