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This blog is part of a series documenting our program’s journey to accelerate the development of inclusive payments systems for universal access to financial services in Africa. #IAmAfricaNenda

Accelerating Financial Inclusion in Africa: The Journey Toward Inclusive Instant Payment Systems

Miriam wakes up early in her small village in rural Uganda, determined to make the most of her day. Her dreams are as vibrant as the fabrics she sews: to buy a second sewing machine, hire an assistant, and turn her small business into a reliable source of income for her family.

However, as one of Africa’s 400 million unbanked individuals, Miriam faces daily financial uncertainty. Without access to formal financial services, she stores her earnings in a tin box under her bed.

Latest blogs

23 April 2025 / Sabine Mensah, Deputy CEO AfricaNenda

The Imperative for Progressive Regulations

In the digital age, modern economies need real-time retail payment infrastructures, known as Instant Payment Systems (IPS), to facilitate quick and seamless money transfers for personal transactions and global trade. To achieve socio-economic goals like financial inclusion and digitalization, IPS must evolve into Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (IIPS), which cater to all users, including those with low financial or digital literacy and small-scale traders. Innovation-friendly regulations are crucial for this transformation, as they foster technological advancements and widespread adoption, ensuring that payment infrastructures are both cutting-edge and inclusive. This blog explores how supportive regulations can unlock the full potential of IPS, particularly in Africa.

27 March 2025 / Nesrine Aouinti, Knowledge Management Lead

Accelerating Action to Bridge the Financial Inclusion Gap

In Africa’s rapidly evolving digital financial landscape, a persistent gender gap remains a significant barrier to achieving financial inclusion for all. Despite significant advancements in mobile connectivity and fintech innovations, women across the continent face disproportionate barriers in accessing and utilizing digital financial tools.

12 March 2025 / Jacqueline Jumah, Director Advocacy & Capacity Development

Data: The Key to Unlocking Inclusive Instant Payments in Africa

Africa’s financial services sector is undergoing a significant transformation, in part through the rapid expansion of instant payment systems (IPS). These open-loop retail payment systems enable irrevocable, low‑value, digital credit push transactions in near real-time for use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Making them inclusive and widely available across Africa has the potential to drive financial inclusion, given the power of payments to motivate people to sign up for accounts and use them.