The SIMM project can be envisioned as ‘An ‘Ebay’ for Africa’ powered by mobile phone technology. In proper context it integrates three objectives: First it will connect African micro-entrepreneur/businesses to African buyers/consumers worldwide through a SIMM Marketplace which has a virtual face similar to Ebay, but which would be accessed mainly by phone. This will significantly enhance market accessibility, competitive marketing, bargaining and economic growth. Female  microfinance entrepreneurs can access the SIMM marketplace via SMS/MMS/phone  to list or delist their products, or ask for info: current market prices and expert advice. The Entrepreneur will receive an SMS once their product is sold, with info on pick-up and delivery. Buyers can access the SIMM marketplace for available products, pricing, location and instant purchasing, bidding or bargaining. In the long term, they can also request delivery. Secondly, SIMM will connect micro-entrepreneurs to potential lenders/investors through the SIMM marketplace. Lenders  worldwide, and especially from the African Diaspora, can connect to their sending communities – watch a micro-entrepreneur MMS video and lend money to a female entrepreneur of their choice through the SIMM Marketplace. This will significantly enhance microfinance. Third, SIMM will inform: provide latest market info, prices and expert business tips to micro-entrepreneurs and subscribed businesses, consumers, as well as provide local development news to the African Diaspora (lenders) from their sending communities through the SIMM Marketplace. The latter service will enhance sustainable engagement with African Diaspora groups and goodwill non-Africans interested in a specific African country, and enhance their potential participation in sustainable development in Africa. Meanwhile info and tips would help reduce price dispersion and waste and increase an entrepreneur profits and consumer welfare. SIMM will initially focus on Cameroon with Microfinance support by the Diaspora and goodwill non-Africans mainly from the United States during the first year. The SIMM model would then be gradually extended to other African countries.  In line with USAID’s priorities in Africa, SIMM will significantly enhance sustainable economic growth in Africa, and facilitate the realization of two UN Millennium development goals: End poverty and empower women. In addition: Our organization the African Renaissance Ambassador (ARA) Corp (a U.S 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization) is currently running a Help Africans Help Africa (HAHA) Microfinance program  where lenders from the US and Europe can watch an online video of regularly updated micro-entrepreneurs, and loan as little as $25 dollars to a female entrepreneur of their choice in Cameroon. The model enhanced by a non-profit channel provided by YouTube has been very successful in transforming  lives in Cameroon, one woman at a time.  However, the biggest complains of many female entrepreneurs during a recent  HAHA microfinance workshop is a lack of access to a wider market which would allow for more competitive pricing and more profit to enhaance sustainability of the business. The SIMM project will built on the HAHA project: provide this access, and also enhance reach, engagement to potential African Diaspora lenders and impact. The SIMM project infact provides a unique opportunity to take the HAHA project to the next level for broader and sustainable impact.  Africans in Diaspora will also be able to access the SIMM market place and can make online purchases for delivery to their sending families in Africa e.g. for weddings and funerals. Because of the use of mobile-phone technologies the SIMM model will allow for up-to-the-minute information on available products from the entrepreneurs and instant access by long distance buyers. ARA currently has offices in Florida and Cameroon,  with an internet facility that can serve as the initial SIMM Marketplace switchboard in Cameroon. ARA has also been working with the African Diaspora and has an au courant 21 Cameroon Diaspora group database,  and networks with churches in Germany and the US. ARA also has  personnel and volunteers experienced in microfinance, and a tremendous growth potential.

Locations