Escrow-backed payments
Escrow on Made in Africa — Trade Without the Trust Gap
Escrow is a neutral holding arrangement: the buyer pays, the money is held by a regulated third party rather than landing in the supplier's account, and it is released only once delivery is confirmed. It means a first-time cross-border trade carries the same protection as a repeat order.
Escrow-backed payments are being arranged with our regulated payments partner.
What escrow protects against
Non-delivery
If the goods never ship, the held balance is not released to the supplier.
Non-payment
If the buyer never funds the trade, the supplier does not dispatch against a promise.
Quality disputes
Goods that arrive wrong, damaged or off-spec are disputed against a balance that is still held.
Cross-border fraud
Buyer and supplier may never meet. Escrow gives both sides the same verified position.
How it works
- 1
Buyer pays into escrow
The buyer pays the agreed trade value into a holding account managed by our regulated payments partner. The supplier can see that the funds are verified and held, but cannot draw them yet.
- 2
Supplier ships
Because the payment is already funded and held, the supplier dispatches with confidence. Shipping documents and tracking references are recorded against the protected trade.
- 3
Buyer confirms delivery
Once the goods arrive as agreed, the buyer confirms delivery and the partner releases the funds. If something is wrong, the balance stays held while the dispute is resolved.
What it costs
Escrow fees will be published at launch. Any fee is disclosed to both parties before a protected trade is funded.
Which trades are eligible
- Trades between buyers and suppliers on Made in Africa, across the SADC markets we serve.
- Minimum and maximum trade values are confirmed with our payments partner and shown before funding.
- Prohibited, sanctioned or restricted goods are excluded.
- Availability can vary by country, so confirm with the trade desk before committing.
What happens in a dispute
The buyer disputes instead of confirming delivery and the balance stays held. Resolution begins within 14 days. Both sides submit evidence — photos, inspection reports, shipping and tracking documents — and the outcome follows the escrow policy.
Escrow questions
Who holds my money during escrow?
The funds sit with our regulated payments partner, not with Made in Africa. Made in Africa facilitates the connection between buyer and supplier but does not hold or control the money itself.
When exactly are funds released to the supplier?
Funds are released only after the buyer confirms the goods arrived as agreed, or as directed through a completed dispute resolution. The supplier cannot draw the balance earlier.
What if the goods arrive damaged or wrong?
The buyer marks the trade as disputed instead of confirming delivery. The held balance stays in escrow while the case is reviewed, and evidence such as photos, inspection reports and shipping documents is submitted.
How long does a dispute take to resolve?
Resolution begins within 14 days of the dispute being raised. Cases needing a physical inspection can take longer, and the timeline is confirmed with both parties at the outset.
Is escrow available in my country?
Escrow is planned for the SADC markets served by Made in Africa. Availability depends on our payments partner and may vary by country, trade value and product type. Confirm eligibility with our trade desk before committing.
What fees apply, and who pays them?
Escrow fees will be published at launch. Any fee is shown to both parties before a protected trade is funded, and no fee is charged without that confirmation.
Be first in line when escrow goes live
Leave your email and we will tell you the day escrow opens — no noise in between.
Escrow services are subject to the terms of our payments partner. Made in Africa facilitates the connection but is not itself a licensed escrow agent.
Full terms are set out in our Escrow Policy. Escrow availability may vary by country and trade value.
Every protected trade is monitored by our team
Talk to the trade desk