ABOUT US

Ma'at was born out of the need to crack the nut of peasant’s lack of easy access to finance. Its aim is to avoid the vicious circle of indebtedness to external institutions. It was developed by a team of practitioners who were convinced that there was a better way than the current offer from banks and microfinance institutions to fulfil peasant needs.

The team believed in the power of collectives, cooperation and self-governance.

The Ma’at concept was developed in 2019 and successfully tested with farmer groups in Mozambique and Mexico. A non-profit NGO, Ma’at Peasant (Association Loi 1901) was established in France, Albi, in 2021. The system was improved through feedback loops from the field and is now in its second version with stronger tools: a web platform and its App, to be tested in Mozambique, Mexico, Brazil and France, ready for wider replication in 2025.

The way it works is groups of approximately 20 farmers meeting regularly, usually weekly, for around 20 minutes, following an established agreed-upon procedure that allows them to deposit and collect money individually and collectively.

The rules are established at the start guided by the Ma’at framework. Collective decisions are taken according to the group established rules of governance.

meet the Team

We are a group of experienced practitioners in diverse fields including food, farming, nature, finance, ICT, mathematics, design.

ANGELA
HILMI
MA'AT Peasant Founder & President
Angela Hilmi is a member of the IPES-Food panel, biologist, agronomist with a PhD in socio-economics, experienced in sustainable agriculture, rural development and finance with over 30 years of work in FAO, the public and private sector in Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean and Europe.
ALCIDIO
ENRIQUE FARIA
Training Coordinator & Mozambique Country Manager
Alcídio Faria graduated in adult education and agriculture. More than 25 years of experience in community development, rural extension, producer associations, financial literacy, business planning and management. Founding member of Ophavela, with more than 9,300 Savings Groups.
ADRIAN
CABRERA
Mexico Country Manager
Adrian Cabrera, biologist working at the Institute for Ecology (Inecol Conahcyt), experienced in food sovereignty, local advocacy, environmental education, solidarity economy and agroecology.
LAERCIO
MEIRELLES
Brazil Country Manager
Laercio Meirelles, agronomist, agroecologist. Working to disseminate ecological techniques since the 1980s in southern Brazil. Coordinator of Centro Ecológico, NGO founded in 1985. World pioneer in the creation of participatory certification processes -participatory guarantee systems.
VINCENT
LEVASSEUR
France Country Manager
Vincent Levasseur Director of Ver de Terre Production, on fertile soils, President of Maraichage Sol Vivant and of the Centre National d’Agroécologie. Leading EC projects to scale-up agroecology with open access online courses and videos. Disseminating free inspirational, actionable and accessible knowledge.
VICENT
GUARDIOLA
MA'AT Treasurer & Administrator
Vicent Guardiola, farmer with decades of practice in agroecology, certified organic farming, biomass and agroforestry. Constructor specialised in bioconstruction with studies in industrial engineering, certified in solar and photovoltaic installations, solar pumps, and renewable energy.
IOANNIS
VERBIS
Mathematical Optimization Designer & Administrator
Ioannis Verbis with a PhD and two MSc degrees in Engineering. Excels in cost modelling along with strong programming and mathematical skills. Specialisation ranging from applied mechanics and light constructions to applied mathematics and process simulation & optimization.
VASSILIS
DARSINOS
ICT Platform Developer & Administrator
Vassilis Darsinos holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering & Computer Technology, specializing in Telecommunications and Electronics. Led the Technical Department and Networks in several IT companies in Greece. Provides specialized technical and consulting IT and software services.
FRANCESCA
LUCCI
Graphics Designer
Francesca Lucci is a Rome-based illustrator, graphic designer, art director and motion graphic producer specialized in video communication and multi-media products for large multi-nationals and international organizations.
ALAIN
CANET
France Country Manager
Co-founder of Arbres et Civilisation, founding member of the French and European agroforestry networks and vice-president of the National Center for Agroecology, director of Arbre et Paysage from 1999 to 2022, publisher (Arbres en campagne), defender, promoter and ambassador of rural trees for almost 30 years.

COLLABORATING PARTNERS & FUNDERS