Dots for at TICAD 9: A Powerful Reminder of the Value of Rural Innovation 🇯🇵🌍
It feels like just yesterday that our team had the honor of attending TICAD 9, Japan’s largest international conference focused on African development. It was a powerful and inspiring event that brought together innovators, decision-makers, and visionaries from across the globe all in one place. At our booth, we had the chance to receive distinguished members of Japanese government and other stakeholders and share the work Dots for is doing in rural areas of Benin, Senegal and beyond. What impacted us most was their genuine interest, shared by companies and other organizations, in what we’ve accomplished. Many recognized in our work a true opportunity both for partnership and for meaningful impact. But beyond new collaborations, TICAD 9 reminded us of something even deeper: the value of the work we do every day in rural communities. Sometimes, when you’re in the field—navigating challenges, solving problems, close to the clients—it’s easy to get caught up in the routine of the work and overlook the scale of change we’re making. The praise that we received at TICAD is a testament to the profound transformation we are driving in rural Africa, with impact reaching far beyond, across the world. Being there reaffirmed that what we are building is not just useful—it’s essential. The world is watching, and rural Africa is full of untapped potential. Dots for is making sure to unveil that, and we’re just getting started.
#TICAD9#AfricaDevelopment#RuralInnovation#DotsforAfricaRelated Articles
January 9, 2026
A few days ago, we released our 2025 Impact Report — a milestone that captures not just numbers, but the experiences, strategy, and real human progress behind them. From the very beginning, our journey has been grounded in fieldwork, listening to communities, and iterating based on what works. The result, A “Flywheel of Impact”, a term we coined ourselves. Our model is simple but powerful: Connect → Digitalize → Transform. And it translates into volumes. 👥 28,000+ paying customers 📱 780,000+ unique users of our digital services 💸 7,300+ accessed financial services 🌱 400+ jobs and income opportunities created ⚙️ 7 key services deployed in our rural networks But the numbers only tell part of the story. Take Ahouangan, a motorcycle taxi driver from Bohicon, who used our BNPL marketplace to buy a better bike and grew his profit from 1,500 FCFA to 6,000 FCFA daily. Or Djegbate, a student who used to walk 1.5km for copies and now prints school documents in his own village — thanks to our collaboration with Brother to bring printing solutions to 20 rural communities. They’re not the only ones. All together, they represent everyday proof of why we exist. Each device installed, service launched, or contract signed is a dot connected toward something bigger — a family helped, a business started, a future unlocked. This progress is only possible thanks to our tireless teams in Benin, Senegal, and Zambia, our trusted partners, and the communities who continue to believe in our mission. Our 2025 Impact Report includes a year-in-brief, our theory of change, and a selection of powerful testimonials from the communities we serve. We invite you to explore the full report and stay tuned. As we speak, the next chapter is already being written. More stories, more progress, and more impact are on the way. Let us know your thoughts. 🔗 Report Link: https://dotsfor.com/pdf/dotsfor_impactreport2025_EN.pdf The flywheel is turning, stronger than ever, connecting all “dots”.
December 12, 2025
Across Africa, our field teams are assembling the very heart of our service—the DC boxes that bring power to rural communities. Each piece may seem small on its own, but together, they create something that drives real change. These components are like dots: seemingly isolated at first, but when connected, they form the foundation for something much bigger. Each component matters. Each connection counts. Because when our technology is assembled, so are the people it serves. The result? Access to increasing income opportunities. By building the technology from the source, our teams ensure that the services we provide are strong, stable, and ready to serve. And once those dot-like components are linked—within a village, across a country, or even beyond borders—they become powerful pathways to a better future. It all starts with the precision and dedication of our local teams. From circuits to impact, the connection is clear.
November 14, 2025
At Dots for, every service we offer is designed with one goal in mind: to create real impact in the lives of people in rural Africa. Our Marketplace service is a beautiful example of that mission in action. In many village communities, dreams of starting a business or expanding an existing one often remain on hold due to a lack of access to essential tools and machinery. Through our growing network of trusted partners and a deep understanding of local needs, Dots for connects the dots—bringing these vital resources right to where they’re needed most. Whether it is a new sewing machine, a milling tool, or a piece of farming equipment, these items are the beginning of new income streams, a revived sense of purpose, and, most visibly, smiles of hope and joy. We’re proud to be the bridge between aspiration and opportunity. And as more people join our network, the smiles keep multiplying within communities across rural Africa. We celebrate many of the lives touched, businesses started, and futures transformed, one community after another.