The verdict in three sentences
A microfinance institution (MFI) with 45 branches and 120,000 clients should budget 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA (about 9,150 to 22,870 EUR) for a serious website rebuild in 2026. The line item that inflates quotes is not design but compliance: BCEAO regulatory disclosures, filing with Senegal's data protection authority (CDP, Law 2008-12) and secure hosting for loan application forms. For funders and impact investors, a well-scoped site is also a governance signal, and a precise RFP keeps the real timeline at 4 to 5 months.
Essential modules and their cost
An MFI website is not a standard brochure. It must reassure clients who are often underbanked, route them to the right branch and pre-qualify loan requests. Each module is priced separately, so the board can trade off scope against the strategic plan budget.
| Module | Purpose | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual CMS core FR/Wolof or FR/EN | 25 to 40 pages, editorial workflow | 2,500,000 to 4,500,000 |
| Loan simulator | Monthly payments, APR shown, products by segment | 800,000 to 2,000,000 |
| Branch locator | Map, opening hours, 45 points, regional filters | 600,000 to 1,500,000 |
| Pre-qualification form | Costed loan request, routing to branch | 700,000 to 1,800,000 |
| Regulatory and investor area | Fees, annual reports, BCEAO notices, complaints, social performance | 400,000 to 900,000 |
| WhatsApp and call center integration | Button, routing, lead tracking | 300,000 to 800,000 |
| Security and accessibility audit | Light penetration testing, contrast, 3G mobile | 700,000 to 2,000,000 |
The low end is a solid site with no link to the core banking system. The high end includes an API to display live rates, which requires coordination with your banking software vendor.
Compliance: BCEAO, CDP and hosting
The regulator does not impose a website template, but the MFI must publish accurate information on pricing and on its complaints process. Any form collecting names, phone numbers, income or ID numbers falls under Law 2008-12 and requires a filing or authorization with the CDP. Impact investors increasingly check these points during due diligence, alongside social performance reporting.
| Requirement | What the vendor must deliver | Time to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing disclosures | Product pages with APR, arrangement fees, penalties | Included in acceptance testing |
| Complaints | Dedicated form, acknowledgment, stated response time | 1 to 2 weeks of development |
| CDP filing | Processing register, privacy notices, retention periods | 4 to 8 weeks of review |
| Hosting | TLS encryption, daily backups, logging | Decided at scoping |
| Consent | Unticked boxes, cookie policy, access rights | Included in the core |
| Availability | 99.5% minimum commitment, 24/7 monitoring | Maintenance contract |
Practical tip: start the CDP process at scoping. It is usually what delays the launch of the loan form, not development.
A realistic 4 to 5 month plan
A typical MFI timeline: 3 weeks of scoping workshops with sales and compliance, 4 weeks of mockups approved by the executive committee, 7 to 9 weeks of development, 2 weeks of acceptance testing with a panel of loan officers, then 1 week of launch and editor training. MFIs that hit this timeline appoint one internal owner with decision authority. Funders financing digital transformation grants generally ask for exactly this kind of milestone plan.
Mini case study
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Mamadou, head of communications at a Dakar MFI with 45 branches, receives three bids: 5,200,000, 9,800,000 and 16,500,000 FCFA. His RFP required the simulator, the locator and the pre-qualification form. The low bid excluded the security audit and maintenance: adding them (1,200,000 FCFA audit plus 150,000 FCFA per month for 12 months) brings it to 8,200,000 FCFA. If the form generates 300 qualified requests per month and 15% convert into an average loan of 750,000 FCFA, the MFI funds 45 additional loans per month. With an estimated 12% net interest margin per year, roughly 4,000,000 FCFA of revenue per annual cohort, the project pays back in just over two quarters (2026 order of magnitude).
FAQ
How much does an MFI website cost in Dakar in 2026?
Expect 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA (about 9,150 to 22,870 EUR) depending on modules and core banking integration. Maintenance then runs 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA per month.
Does the site need to be filed with the CDP?
Yes, as soon as it collects personal data, especially through a loan form. Review often takes 4 to 8 weeks, so plan for it.
Should the simulator show the APR?
It is strongly recommended for transparency toward clients, the regulator and investors. A well-built simulator costs 800,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA depending on the number of products.
Where should the site be hosted?
Hosting with encryption, daily backups and at least 99.5% availability is the standard. Cost ranges from 25,000 to 150,000 FCFA per month depending on service level.
Can donors or impact investors fund the rebuild?
Some technical assistance facilities co-fund digital projects, typically 30% to 70% of the budget. They expect a clear RFP, milestones and compliance deliverables like those above.
Let's scope your project. Send us your RFP or objectives and we will price each module, the maintenance budget and a 4 to 5 month plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
