Sarafu Network is an open-source, community-run platform that empowers marginalized communities in Kenya and beyond to trade, save, and build resilience using digital commitment pools and community asset vouchers. Developed and maintained by Grassroots Economics Foundation, Sarafu allows anyone with a mobile phone to access zero-interest local credit, connect with community funds, and trade for goods and services using blockchain-based digital tokens.
Since its launch, Sarafu has supported thousands of smallholder farmers, women’s groups, and informal businesses, helping communities thrive independently of unstable national currencies. The project prioritizes financial inclusion, transparency, and local governance, ensuring every participant can join, collaborate, and grow wealth collectively.
Sarafu is now expanding internationally and is freely available for adaptation by other communities seeking sustainable economic models.
The founder of Sarafu Network – Will Ruddick is a development economist known for pioneering community currencies, also called social currencies or community inclusion currencies, to support local economies in Kenya and beyond. He founded the Grassroots Economics Foundation and launched notable projects such as the Bangla-Pesa and Sarafu-Network, helping over 80 communities and 60,000 households participate in alternative economic systems. These currencies enable resource-poor communities to trade goods and services without relying on traditional money, fostering economic resilience and social cohesion.
