In a significant stride toward financial inclusion and digital transformation, AfricaNenda Foundation, in collaboration with the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), RSwitch, Ministry of ICT & Innovation, National Bank of Rwanda and RSwitch, successfully launched the second use case of eKash (Rwanda National Digital Payment System RNDPS) in February 2025. This milestone marks years of dedicated effort to building a robust, interoperable, and inhouse inclusive digital payment infrastructure. eKash is set to revolutionize how consumers and businesses transact in Rwanda

The unveiling of eKash’s interoperable merchant payments was a key highlight at the Inclusive Fintech Forum 2025, where RSwitch introduced the Person-to-Merchant (P2M) use case. Developed in-house and powered by Mojaloop’s open-source technology, eKash allows seamless, real-time money transfers across banks and digital wallets—without extra fees, delays, or hidden charges.

Bank of Kigali Plc and MVend Limited are leading the charge as the first merchant acquirers, driving financial inclusion, enhancing economic efficiency, and accelerating digital adoption across Rwanda.

This initiative has been made possible through the support AfricaNenda, the Gates Foundation, Access to Finance Rwanda and GIZ, whose funding and strategic support have been instrumental in making this vision a reality.

The adoption of Mojaloop provided RSwitch with an opportunity to rebuild a national digital payment platform tailored to Rwanda’s contextual needs. It enabled greater local ownership, eliminated vendor dependencies, and allowed for easier scalability and innovation. The open-source nature of the platform also supported local capacity building, empowering RSwitch and its partners to enhance interoperability and expand access to inclusive financial services across the country.

The revelation of the second use case of eKash aligns with Rwanda’s broader ambition to establish a fully interoperable and inclusive financial ecosystem. This collaborative effort brings together:

• AfricaNenda’s expertise in driving digital payment adoption across Africa
• RSwitch’s technical leadership in payment infrastructure development
• RISA’s strategic oversight in ensuring alignment with national digital finance goals

“We have brought you one end point that connects you to all marketplaces. For fintechs to focus on innovation and serving their customers, eKash is instant, secure, affordable and seamless which brings us closer to a cashless economy” says Blaise Gasabira, CEO, RSwitch

AfricaNenda’s key contributions to eKash:

• Project Management & Coordination: Bringing together stakeholders, aligning objectives, and overseeing the execution of the project.
• Funding & Grant Administration: Unlocking project funding from project sponsors, ensuring the resources are efficiently utilized for the successful implementation of the project.
• Technical Support & Capacity Building: Working closely with RSwitch to ensure that the platform and scheme adheres to international best practices for seamless financial transactions.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy: Strengthening partnerships with industry players, regulators, and financial institutions to drive broad market adoption and policy alignment.

According to Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO of AfricaNenda,“The launch of eKash is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. Rwanda has set a precedent for the continent by developing an inhouse instant and inclusive payment system that truly benefits all citizens, including the unbanked and underserved communities. AfricaNenda remains committed to championing digital financial solutions that empower people and businesses across Africa.”

Next steps for eKash

Looking ahead, the next steps for eKash include:

• Expanding its use cases to Business-to-Business (B2B) and Government-to-Person (G2P) transactions.
• Onboarding more financial institutions to enhance accessibility and inclusivity.
• Launching user education campaigns to promote adoption.
• Continuously refining the system’s performance o ensure efficiency and security.

The success of eKash positions Rwanda as a blueprint for digital financial transformation in Africa, demonstrating how strategic collaboration and innovation can drive financial inclusion and economic empowerment. With Rwanda setting the pace, Africa is not just adopting financial technology- it is leading its evolution.