Elase Mwale used to send money from her home in Lusaka back to her village near Mansa in northern Zambia giving an envelope full of cash to a bus driver. When she discovered mobile money, she replaced the envelope with a digital wallet.

Elase saved for six months until she was able to buy a mobile money booth in Misisi, an area in the south of the Lusaka Central Business District. At the beginning of her business, Elase was often short of liquidity and she often had to turn down customers. Without access to capital, she could not grow her business. Around this time, Elase was approached by FINCA, a microfinance institution. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) programme MM4P (Mobile Money for the Poor) supported FINCA to develop non collateral loans for agents like Elase.

With her loan, Elase expanded her business and she is now the proud manager of 4 booths and several tellers. Her earnings allow her to support her niece in a nursing school and to take care of her two daughters.