Good reporting often starts with a journalist asking the right question. As digital payments change how millions of Africans send, receive and manage money, informed questions can help people understand what these changes mean for their everyday lives.

Sitting in our latest media workshop in Abidjan, I listened to journalists discuss interoperability, consumer protection, cross-border payments and financial inclusion. What struck me was how naturally they spoke about these issues. They asked informed questions and explained technical concepts in simple language.

Many of them have been part of this journey with us for several years. Witnessing their growth and increased confidence in reporting on digital financial inclusion has been immensely rewarding. It was a powerful reminder of why AfricaNenda Foundation chose to invest in building stronger partnerships with the media.

I remember our first State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (SIIPS) in Africa report launch, held on the margins of MWC Africa in 2022. The room had space for around 50 people. It was completely full, and more people were standing outside. Several journalists came to speak with us. They were interested and wanted to understand what instant payment systems meant for their countries and audiences.

At that launch, one article presented Ghana as having the “number one” instant payment system in Africa. That was not exactly what the report said. Ghana’s system had been assessed as the most advanced at the time. Because the topic was still new, the finding was interpreted as a ranking: Who was first? Who was the best?

This experience stayed with me. I saw both the interest of journalists and the need for deeper engagement. It also taught me an important lesson: producing good research is not enough if the findings are not clearly understood. We need to help journalists communicate that research and make sense of it.

At the second SIIPS launch in Ethiopia, media interest had grown. This is where the idea of building a media coalition began. We did not want to contact journalists only when we had a report to launch or an announcement to make. We wanted to build a relationship with them and create opportunities for regular learning and exchange.

Since then, we have held workshops, connected journalists with experts, and created spaces where they can ask questions freely. We also learn from them. Their questions show us what is unclear and where we need to communicate better. The change has happened gradually.

At the beginning, many conversations focused on understanding the basics of instant payment systems. Today, the journalists we work with are asking more detailed questions. They want to know whether systems are truly inclusive, whether they are affordable and safe, and why cross-border payments in Africa remain costly, slow, and difficult to access. They are also looking beyond the launch of a new platform. They want to understand what changes for the person using it.

This is exactly the kind of journalism the financial inclusion ecosystem needs. Journalists are not there to repeat our messages or promote our work. They should question the evidence, highlight progress, and draw attention to the gaps. Our role is to give them access to reliable information, relevant data, and the experts involved in the work.

Technical terms can make payment systems feel distant from everyday life. Yet these systems affect how people receive money, pay for services, run businesses, and participate in the economy. That connection needs to be made clear.

We can support the development of infrastructure, regulation, and payment systems. But people must understand the services available to them. They need to know how those services work, what their rights are, and what risks they should be aware of.

For communicators, our responsibility is to make complex information accessible without changing its meaning. For journalists, it is to ask questions that connect technical decisions with people’s real experiences.

Our media coalition is still growing and learning. Success for us is not measured simply by the number of articles published. We want to see stronger reporting, better questions, and stories that help people understand why developments in digital payments matter to them. That is what I saw in the room in Abidjan.

The journalists were confident. They understood the subject, challenged the speakers, and made technical ideas easier to understand. It was a powerful reminder of what consistent engagement can achieve.

We are excited to expand this journey to more journalists across Africa. If you are interested in financial inclusion, digital payments, and the stories driving Africa’s financial transformation, we invite you to become part of the AfricaNenda media coalition and help shape informed conversations on the future of inclusive finance.

Applications are now open for AfricaNenda Foundation’s Training for African Journalists on Reporting Payment Systems and Financial Inclusion, apply now.