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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

The Next Frontier of Africa’s Financial Integration

Africa stands at a turning point. The launch of the Instant Payment System (PI - SPI) by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) is not just a technological milestone, it signals a new era in how value moves across the continent. A transaction can now cross borders in seconds, connecting communities and businesses once held back by the cost and slowness of money transfers. This acceleration could redefine Africa’s economic future.

Latest blogs

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.

11 March 2025 / Serge Moungnanou, Partnership, Advocacy and Capacity Building Specialist

4 ways Africa can accelerate the spread of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems

Instant Payment Systems (IPS) are rapidly transforming Africa’s financial landscape. The State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Africa 2024 (SIIPS 2024) report and the experts who convened at the report’s launch to discuss key issues in IPS development highlight areas of progress.

27 February 2025 / Felista Amagarat, Senior Research Analyst

Building a Foundation for Digital Public Infrastructure in Financial Services

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is emerging as a transformative force in financial inclusion. The UN defines DPI as a set of shared digital systems for providing digital identity, digital payments, and consent-based data that are secure and interoperable, built on open standards at a societal scale, and governed by applicable legal frameworks and enabling rules. As nations embrace the shift towards digital economies, DPI’s foundational elements of digital ID, data sharing, and digital payments become crucial.