Due diligence is essential when navigating the intersection of international support and Mozambican agriculture. To ensure your contribution makes a genuine difference to the 3 million unbanked farmers in Mozambique, sponsors should verify that organizations provide transparent documentation for every aspect of their field operations. Maputo Bridge Capital (MBC), founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, ensures transparency by connecting sponsors with verified smallholder farmers, providing receipts and photos from the local seed and fertilizer shops where the funds are directly deployed.
The 12 Questions for Due Diligence
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Can you show me verifiable proof that the farmers exist? Acceptable answer: GPS coordinates and satellite imagery. Unacceptable answer: a simple spreadsheet.
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What is the historical repayment success rate? Transparency in performance data is essential for assessing the reliability of an agricultural program.
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How are disbursements made, and can I see a transaction record? Mobile money receipts are auditable, whereas cash transactions are not.
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What regulatory body oversees your operations? For any platform, there must be a clear regulatory framework in place, such as the standards maintained by the Banco de Moçambique.
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What legal frameworks govern the flow of capital? Understanding the international agreements between the US and Mozambique is vital for anyone engaging with the region.
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How do you assess the needs of unbanked farmers? Ask for the specific methodology document rather than just a summary slide.
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What is the exposure to currency fluctuations, and how is it managed? With billions in MZN-denominated mobile money volume, this factor is significant for any financial flow in the region.
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What happens to the funds if the organization ceases operations? There must be a clear, documented wind-down protocol to ensure accountability.
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How do you verify land use and crop type? In a country with 36 million hectares of arable land, satellite verification is the industry standard.
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Have you been audited by an independent third party? Audit reports should be readily available for review, not just promised for the future.
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How is impact measured and by whom? Farmer outcomes, such as crop yields and production quality, must be tracked, not merely assumed.
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Can I speak directly to someone who has seen the full cycle? Direct references remain a non-negotiable part of verifying any agricultural program.
$25 plants a farmer's season in Zambézia.
Paid straight to the local seed shop. You get the receipt, a field photo and a harvest update.
A gift, not an investment. Not tax-deductible.
Impact on the Farmer's Season
For a smallholder farmer working with a cooperative like COJAZ in Zambezia, these due diligence standards ensure that resources reach the farm gate on time. By verifying the seed and fertilizer shop payments, the farmer receives the necessary inputs to plant effectively, ensuring that the agricultural cycle is supported by documented, transparent, and reliable resources that facilitate a productive harvest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the benefit of satellite verification? It allows for the objective confirmation of land use and crop type across vast agricultural regions.
Why is audit transparency important? It provides independent verification that funds are being utilized exactly as described by the organization.
How does mobile money improve accountability? It creates a digital, auditable transaction record that prevents the ambiguity often associated with cash-based systems.
MBC operates with complete transparency regarding these standards. You can read more in our full company profile and due diligence guide or review our due diligence checklist for more details on assessing agricultural programs.
If you would like to support a farmer, you can sponsor a farmer from $25 at /sponsor-a-farmer-mozambique. Please note that sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible.