11. Platform and system settings
These settings control how DFFMS reacts to delays, risks and outside services. Most are on the Configuration page (/system/configuration). Some are on other pages, as the table shows.
| Setting | Where | What it does | Who may change it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escalation service levels | Configuration | Sets how long a decision can wait before reminders and escalations. Default: "Approval reminder (hours)" 24; "Escalate to Programme Administrator (hours)" 48; "Escalate to Client System Administrator (hours)" 96; "Application stage limit (working days)" 5; "Repayment reminders (days overdue)" 1, 7, 30; "Escalate unpaid instalment (days overdue)" 30. Values must climb in order. Invalid values fall back to the defaults. Changes are audited. | PSA or CSA. Save with Save escalation service levels. |
| Scheme redemption deadline | (fixed in code) | Pay-by date plus 3 working days. | Not configurable |
| Early-warning thresholds | Configuration | Sets when warnings appear. Examples: receipt expiry warning 14 days; commodity price drop 1500 (15%); warehouse concentration 40%; commodity concentration 60%; delivery overdue 7 days; buyer payment delay 30 days; first-loss utilisation 75%; arrears alerts at 30 and 90 days; minimum debt-service cover 1.20×; construction delay 30 days; delayed disbursement 30 days; cost overrun 10%. Save with Save early-warning thresholds. | PSA or CSA |
| Staff authentication policy | Security centre | Turns on Require MFA before staff portal access. Default off. Changing it notifies the PSA who made the change. | PSA only. Others see "You have read-only access to this policy." |
| Withholding tax | Investment schemes, on each scheme (Withholding tax) | Sets the tax rate on dividends and on redemptions for one scheme. Redemption rate default is 0%. You can choose whether the tax is charged on the return above cost or on the whole amount. You must give a reason (at least 5 characters). New rates apply only to new dividends and new redemption requests. | PSA only |
| Provider settings | Provider settings (/settings/providers) | Lists payment and messaging providers: Flutterwave, Paystack, Fincra, Squad, Termii, Twilio and a generic connector. You can enable or disable each one for new operations. Credentials are never shown on screen. | PSA can enable or disable. CSA can view. |
| Tenant creation | Users | Creates a new client tenant. | PSA only |
| Role permission policies | Roles & permissions | Narrows what each role may do (section 12). | PSA saves. CSA views. |
| Configuration checks | Configuration | Shows whether the database, transactional email and Google sign-in are present. These are checks only. | View only |
Important notes
- Settings are changed in the portal, not in code. Ask your administrator before changing a value you do not understand.
- Warnings appear only after the daily check runs at 06:00 UTC. A new reading does not raise a warning at once.
- The Platform Super Administrator is the only role that can change the withholding tax rate. If a CSA needs a change, it must ask the PSA.