AfricaNenda Foundation is an Africa-based, African-led nonprofit working with central banks and payment ecosystem stakeholders to accelerate the design, development, launch, and improvement of inclusive instant payment systems.
Our team of 25 experts in 14 countries provides technical expertise, builds capacity, shares knowledge, and advocates for inclusivity across the instant payment system project lifecycle.
Through this work, we aim to help deliver the power of seamless and affordable digital payments to 260 million financially excluded Africans by 2030.
AfricaNenda’s approach is to provide public and private sector stakeholders with technical expertise and the capacity to reduce barriers to digital payments. Our value lies in fostering collaboration, enhancing local capacities, and promoting inclusive instant payment systems.
AfricaNenda is committed to providing long-term support to projects we engage with. We prioritize ensuring that systems are sustainable and functional even after the initial implementation phase.
Yes, sustainability is a key focus for AfricaNenda. We work closely with local stakeholders, ensuring knowledge transfer and capacity building, so that systems remain functional and relevant in the long term.
Capacity building is critical for ensuring that local teams can manage and scale the systems independently. We select countries based on needs, on demand and potential impact, focusing on regions with the most urgent financial inclusion gaps. Training costs are shared to maximize impact, fostering a collaborative environment where all parties benefit from the knowledge exchange.
AfricaNenda collaborates with various partners, including those working on open-source payment solutions like Mojaloop. We believe in the importance of interoperability and open standards for driving financial inclusion, and Mojaloop is one of the open-source community partners we engage with, though we remain open to other suitable technologies.
AfricaNenda is a technology agnostic neutral broker in the IIPS ecosystem. Technology choices are made by IIPS project owners. AfricaNenda advocates for inclusivity in the deployment of instant payment systems. We provide technical assistance and project support regardless of the technology choice made by project owners.
While Mojaloop is a key open-source solution supported by the Gates Foundation, we are technology agnostic and prioritize solutions that are interoperable and promote financial inclusion. If Mojaloop doesn’t meet your needs, we are open to discussing other options, though we encourage solutions that align with our broader goals of scalability and inclusivity.
AfricaNenda promotes the sharing of best practices across Africa through a variety of initiatives. We organize workshops, learning visits, and webinars where stakeholders can exchange knowledge and experiences. Additionally, we produce content that highlights successful models and lessons learned from various countries. We create a collaborative environment where the ecosystem can come together, share insights, and learn from each other, fostering innovation and accelerating the adoption of interoperable payment systems across the continent.
AfricaNenda is actively engaged with the AUC and other regional bodies to promote the benefits of inclusive instant systems across Africa. We see the work with the AUC as a key avenue for advancing these systems continent-wide.
AfricaNenda is a registered foundation in Mauritius. Our activities are funded with donor / philanthropic grants. To date, we have received funding from the Gates Foundation who share our vision for financial inclusion for all in Africa, we raise funding for our State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Africa events, with partners such as Co-Develop and Mastercard having contributed to previous editions. We have also received funding from GIZ for country IPS implementation and we continue engaging with several donors and multilaterals on our resource mobilization strategy. This funding allows us to support projects that enhance access to inclusive instant payment systems across Africa.
AfricaNenda Foundation is an independent non-for-profit organization that operates with a mission to accelerate financial inclusion in Africa. We are not owned by any single entity but work in collaboration with various stakeholders, including governments, central banks, regional economic communities, private sector associations, and development partners.
While the Gates Foundation is a significant funder, AfricaNenda maintains its independence by focusing on the broader goal of financial inclusion and working collaboratively with a range of partners. We continue engaging with several donors and multilaterals on our ongoing resource mobilization strategy. Our approach is to ensure local ownership and transparency in the projects we support.
The Gates Foundation’s support is aimed at advancing financial inclusion through collaborative, open-source solutions. Their involvement is focused on promoting scalable and sustainable systems, not on direct control over the outcomes or specific technologies used.
No, our technical support is designed to empower local teams and ensure the sustainability of projects. We provide assistance without any conditions that would restrict the project’s ownership or long-term success.
Payment systems, particularly digital ones, can help those with limited access to traditional financial services by providing a way to receive payments, save money securely, and access credit. These systems can also reduce the dependency on cash, which is often less secure and harder to manage for those without access to physical bank branches.
Even in countries with smaller populations, an efficient IPS can drive significant benefits by fostering financial inclusion, reducing the costs of cash management, and enabling easier cross-border transactions. By focusing on scalable solutions, smaller markets can still reap the benefits of a well-integrated IPS.
Building a single switch for a country can streamline payment processes, reduce fragmentation, and improve interoperability between different financial institutions. This can lead to more efficient and secure payment systems, enabling easier access to digital financial services for all citizens.
AfricaNenda monitors developments in CBDCSs and their potential role in enhancing financial inclusion. However, our primary focus remains on supporting inclusive instant payment systems that can drive broader adoption of digital payments across the continent.
AfricaNenda operates in a decentralized manner to ensure flexibility, adaptability, and local engagement. Our approach allows us to work directly with stakeholders in different countries, tailoring solutions to their specific needs while leveraging the expertise of a wide range of partners.
AfricaNenda is NOT a grant making organization. We provide technical assistance, project / program management and capacity building support working with our partners in their markets.
AfricaNenda contracts consultants regularly in areas such as technology implementation, regulatory frameworks, financial systems, and payment systems. Consultants play a key role in delivering specialized expertise to ensure the success of our projects.
