A delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), led by Mr. Emmanuel Nnko, Programme Specialist -Head of SDG Financing & Investment Portfolio paid a visit to the EABC Secretariat and explored areas of collaboration on cross border digital payments.
Mr. Emmanuel Nnko stated that UNDP has supported the development of the AfCFTA Country Strategy and capacity building on AfCFTA to private sector actors in Tanzania.
Mr. Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, highlighted EABC’s ongoing programmes in supporting cross-border traders, capacity building on AfCFTA to private sector.
Areas discussed included:
- Unlocking digital merchant payments for cross border traders to enable regional and economic integration in the region.
- Ongoing regional and continental initiatives including the The EAC Payment Settlement System and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)
- Planned border visits and subsequent research on cross-border trade digital payments and the barriers to usage.
- Convening of a regional forum to disseminate research findings with key stakeholders in the ecosystem to key issues such as Technology interoperability, Capacity building on digital literacy, Infrastructure and regulatory frameworks for digital payments
- Peer-to-peer exchange and collaboration with other Regional Business Councils in Africa
Also present were Ms. Juliet Maina from UNDP – Better Than Cash Alliance, and Mr. Symon Nkonoki – UNDP- Sustainable Development and Finance.
