AfricaNenda and Smart Africa join forces to carry out strategic interventions around the development and the adoption of open standards for interoperable and inclusive payment systems in line with existing mechanisms on the continent. The partners will engage in joint advocacy for policy harmonization and host high-level convening events targeting both public and private stakeholders to accelerate financial inclusion across Africa.

Commenting on this strategic MoU signature, Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO of AfricaNenda said: “If we are to close the gap of the four hundred million financially excluded adults within our continent, we need to enable access to formal financial services. AfricaNenda is committed to accelerating instant and inclusive payments systems across Africa. We understand the significance of partnerships-led initiatives in the scale-up of digital payments. Through this partnership with Smart Africa, we seek to strengthen the capacities of decision-makers on efforts that deliver towards universal access to inclusive payment systems.”

In the words of the CEO of Smart Africa, Lacina Koné stated: “We are very pleased to join forces with AfricaNenda at this particular time where digital payments and financial inclusion are more than critical for the socio-economic development of the continent. Building and enhancing capacities of Africa’s decision and policy makers on digital payments will contribute to reinforce our vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030.”