Middle east north africa sub saharan africa africa

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2018: A New Economy in Middle East and North Africa

This report lays out the principles for a new digital economy for MENA that embraces innovation and entrepreneurship, youth and women economic empowerment, rekindling the role of State, etc.

Africa agriculture status report 2015: Youth and agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

Each year, 10 million young Africans enter the continent’s workforce, more than ever before. Although this highlights the great challenge of youth unemployment, it could also be a great oppo…

McKinsey: The future of payments in the Middle East

Through surveys with consumers and payments practitioners, McKinsey share anticipated trends which will shape the region’s ‘payments revolution’ over the next five years.

E-money, Financial Inclusion and Mobile Money Tax in Sub-Saharan African Mobile Networks

The paper studies the incidence of new mobile money excise duties on the adoption of electronic money.

Our work in Africa

Discover our action-focused advocacy work through the continent, as well as our member advisory initiatives in Africa.

Balancing financial inclusion and data protection in South Africa: Black Sash Trust v Minister of Social Development

The participation of many underprivileged social clusters in the financial services sector has invariably been problematic in South Africa. This may be attributed to the country’s laws and p…

IFC: Women and e-commerce in Africa

In Africa, the number of online shoppers has increased by an average of 18% every year since 2014. IFC’s report shows that closing earnings gaps between women and men on e-commerce platforms could add over $280 billion to the value of Africa’s e-commerce market.

WHO taps into Africa's flourishing mobile money space

It’s not just about fresh capital for Africa: it is about deployment

Mobile Money and the importance of timely, complete payments to frontline health campaign workers in the fight to eradicate polio: pilot experience from a WHO digital payment platform in Africa

The State Of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems In Africa

The report assesses the landscape of 32 instant payment systems in Africa, measuring their performance on criteria such as interoperability, use cases, channels, and governance.

Op-Ed: As COVID-19 presents Africa with conflicting choices between relief for today and investing for tomorrow, here’s why it needs to consider digitization

The state of social assistance in Africa

The UNDP report analyzes the recent growth across three foundational dimensions of social assistance in the continent - legal frameworks, institutions and financing.

Our new Tanzania report in CNBC Africa

UN-based Global Alliance Advances Digital Payments in Africa

A handbook on regional integration in Africa: Towards Agenda 2063

The Handbook advices and informs on current dynamics, opportunities, challenges and policy options for Africa’s regional integration agenda.

West Africa launches new payments digitization agenda

New report: Worker payments digitization for economic recovery and decent work.

Digital Payments Offer Enormous Opportunity for Ethiopia, Says Better Than Cash Alliance Africa Lead

Next Steps for the Digital Revolution in Africa: Inclusive Growth and Job Creation Lessons from Kenya

This paper provides examples of how digitization in Kenya has supported the economy via a retail electronic payments system, financial inclusion, increased financial sector vibrancy, and pushed GDP growth with it.

8 ways to boost Africa's digital ecosystem

The World Economic Forum and International Trade Centre’s “Africa e-commerce agenda” discusses 8 policy areas - including enhancing digital payments - that can help unleash the potential of e-commerce in the continent.