The China Mail - JUMO and Standard Bank launch Social Finance Framework to scale inclusive finance in Africa

Banking technology company JUMO has launched a new Social Finance Framework (SFF) in partnership with Standard Bank’s Sustainable Finance team. The framework aligns with internationally recognised sustainable finance guidelines and provides a transparent structure for raising social finance, such as social loans and social bonds.

This will fund financially inclusive lending activities on JUMO’s technology platform to positively impact underserved individuals, micro enterprises and SMEs across the nine African markets JUMO operates in. With an addressable lending opportunity and a scalable, technology-enabled platform, JUMO is well positioned to deploy capital efficiently across high-growth African markets. The framework is also supported by a positive second party opinion from Endiligence.

Founded with a vision to close the access gap in financial systems for emerging markets, JUMO has built AI-powered technology and lasting partnerships with financial institutions and telcos to expand access to financial services for communities traditionally excluded from formal banking systems. JUMO has demonstrated rapid and accelerating scale, with over $10bn in lifetime disbursements and more than 317 million loans delivered since inception. This is underpinned by 79% year-on-year growth in disbursements and record monthly volumes. The platform delivers measurable inclusion outcomes, with millions of new-to-bank customers, significant participation from youth, women and rural populations, and meaningful exposure to low-income segments often excluded from formal finance.

The framework supports funding for eligible social activities including:

• SME and microenterprise financing
• Employment generation
• Economic empowerment
• Access to responsible digital financial services

JUMO operates digital financial ecosystems across multiple African markets, with further expansion planned across the continent.

"The launch of the framework represents an important milestone in JUMO’s sustainable finance journey and underpins our core commitment to responsible lending,’ says JUMO CEO Paul Whelpton. ‘It enables a broader pool of development finance institutions, impact investors and sustainability-focused funders to access transparent and measurable social impact opportunities in Africa."

"The framework standardises the governance, reporting and impact measurement processes intended to provide investors with confidence that financing is directed towards eligible social activities aligned with global sustainable finance standards,’ says George Karamitsos, VP of Sustainable Finance for Standard Bank. ‘The framework provides a credible, transparent vehicle to channel institutional capital into JUMO’s proven platform at scale."

By combining JUMO’s technology-driven banking infrastructure with sustainable finance principles, the jointly established framework aims to accelerate access to responsible credit and unlock economic opportunity for millions of underserved consumers and businesses across the continent.

Capital directly supports underserved populations, including youth, women, rural communities, and low-income individuals, with clear evidence of improved livelihoods.

About JUMO

JUMO has developed AI-led financial technology that enables banks to offer a new generation of digital credit and savings products to millions of entrepreneurs in Africa. JUMO works with partners, such as banks, e-money operators and payments providers, to facilitate high-tech information and money management systems.

Since its founding in 2015, JUMO has disbursed over $10 billion to 40 million people in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Benin and Cameroon. JUMO’s administration of over 317 million individual loans has proven that microcredit in Africa is imperative, impactful and sustainable.

With unmatched speed to market and low infrastructure costs, JUMO aims to bring banking to everyone, everywhere, at any time.

www.jumo.world

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About Standard Bank

The Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets, operating in 21 African countries, 4 global financial centres and 2 offshore hubs.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, we are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with share code SBK, and the Namibian Stock Exchange, share code SNB. Standard Bank has a 163-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise outside southern Africa in the early 1990s. Our strategic position, which enables us to connect Africa to other select emerging markets as well as pools of capital in developed markets, and our balanced portfolio of businesses, provide significant opportunities for growth.

As at 30 June 2026, Standard Bank Group had 19.5 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had over 1 200 points of representation and over 5 600 ATMs across the African continent. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, with a 19.7% shareholding. In addition, Standard Bank Group and ICBC share a strategic partnership that facilitates trade and deal flow between Africa, China and select emerging markets.

For further information, go to http://www.standardbank.com

Social Finance Framework Objectives

The framework serves five key strategic purposes:

Unlock Institutional & Impact Capital

The framework creates a credible structure through which global investors, DFIs and banks can fund sustainable lending activities on JUMO’s platform with confidence.

Scale Financial Inclusion and Social Impact

It supports funding for underserved individuals and SMEs who often lack access to traditional banking products.

Create Credibility Through International Standards

Alignment with globally recognised sustainable finance principles provides transparency, governance and market credibility.

Enable Repeat Sustainable Funding

The framework streamlines future social financing transactions and creates long-term fundraising efficiencies.

Position JUMO as a Sustainable Fintech Leader

The framework elevates JUMO beyond a fintech lender into a recognised sustainable finance platform supporting inclusive growth across Africa.

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Source article: https://financewire.com/2026/09/11/jumo-and-standard-bank-launch-social-finance-framework-to-scale-inclusive-finance-in-africa/

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