AfricaNenda Foundation is publishing The State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (SIIPS) in Africa – Glossary of Terms (April 2026), a concise reference guide that explains the core language of inclusive instant payments systems (IIPS) and digital public infrastructure (DPI) in Africa.
Why this glossary matters for inclusive instant payments
Designing and scaling IIPS requires a shared understanding of key concepts like interoperability, open‑loop systems, tiered KYC, and digital public infrastructure. Yet these terms are often defined differently across markets and institutions, which can slow down collaboration and create confusion in policymaking and implementation.
The SIIPS Glossary of Terms brings together over 80 definitions from AfricaNenda subject matter experts, leading global and African sources, tailored to the realities of low‑value, real‑time, retail payments in Africa. It aligns terminology used in the SIIPS 2025 report and upcoming SIIPS editions, helping stakeholders interpret data and findings consistently when discussing financial inclusion, cross‑border payments, and digital public goods.
What you can use it for
- Align technical language across central banks, payment system operators, fintechs, and development partners.
- Support work on financial inclusion, cross‑border payments, G2P and social disbursements, and digital public goods.
- Quickly look up definitions for terms like e‑money, QR codes, USSD, recourse mechanisms, risk‑based AML/CFT, and more.
The SIIPS Glossary of Terms (April 2026) is now available as a free download here and complements the SIIPS 2025 report and future editions
