Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Ethiopia and the Cooperative Bank of Oromia (Coopbank) have sealed a bold new pact to bring digital finance closer to farmers across the country. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) crowns five months of strategic discussions exploring innovative, farmer-friendly solutions ranging from carbon financing and crop insurance to machinery lease financing and strengthening Village Loan and Savings Associations (VLSAs). Together, the partners aim to unlock smarter, safer, and more inclusive financial pathways for Ethiopia’s agricultural communities.

During the signing ceremony on August 5, 2025, Coopbank CEO Mr. Deribie Asfaw reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to inclusive finance and agricultural development, while SAA Country Director Dr. Fentahun Mengistu highlighted SAA’s 32 years of experience in driving agricultural transformation in Ethiopia.

The SAA team also toured Coopbank’s Digital Innovation Center, observing advanced loan management and cash collection systems that support efficient financial service delivery.
The partners plan to establish a joint technical team to pilot and scale financial solutions for farmers, strengthen Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and Farmer Organizations (FOs), and improve rural communities’ Access to Finance (A2F). The MoU marks a key step toward a digitally empowered and agriculturally prosperous Ethiopia.

SAA delegation team while visiting Coopbank Digital Ecosystem.