USSD
Any phone. Zero data. Instant redemption.
USSD is the bedrock of mobile access in Africa. Any phone with a SIM card can dial a USSD short code. No internet connection, no app, no data balance required. RibiRewards Payout USSD redemption covers the broadest possible recipient base — including feature phone users, rural populations, and anyone without a data plan.
No data needed · Works on every phoneUSSD SESSION · MTN NIGERIA
Dial: *737*CODE#
RibiRewards Payout REWARDS
Welcome, Emeka.
Balance: ₦5,000
Expires: 31 Dec 2027
Redeem at:
1. Grocery
2. Airtime
3. Food & dining
0. Exit
Reply 1 to redeem at grocery →
Why USSD matters
The channel that reaches everyone.
In Nigeria alone, over 40 million people use feature phones. Across sub-Saharan Africa, smartphone penetration is still below 50% in many markets. USSD is the only channel that reaches all of them.
From the playbook
Who uses this channel — in depth.
Why USSD is the best channel for FMCG in-pack promotions in Africa
On-pack promotions in African markets live or die by redemption friction. USSD removes all of it — any phone, any network, zero data required.
Rewarding rural distributors and field agents with USSD — the operational case
Field agents and rural distributors can't redeem on an app they can't load. USSD closes the gap — turning every incentive into a payment that lands regardless of connectivity.
USSD reward delivery for healthcare workers and community health volunteers
Healthcare reward programmes lose impact when delivery fails. For workers in the field, USSD is the only channel that guarantees every incentive reaches its recipient.
Using USSD reward delivery to reach unbanked recipients in Africa
Unbanked doesn't mean unreachable. USSD reward delivery lets inclusion programmes issue real value to recipients who have never touched a bank branch or smartphone.
How it works
Four steps to redemption.
01
Recipient receives card
Physical scratch card, SMS with code, or printed voucher — any format that includes the USSD short code.
02
Dial the short code
Recipient dials *XXX*CODE# from any phone on any network. No data required — standard USSD session.
03
Navigate the menu
USSD menu shows balance, redemption categories, and nearby merchants. Navigate with number key presses.
04
Confirm redemption
Select category and confirm. Balance deducted in real time. Recipient receives SMS confirmation.
Other access channels
Get started
Ready for zero-data redemption?
USSD is active by default across all RibiRewards Payout markets. Connect your platform and start issuing within days.
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