AfricaNenda Foundation to launch fifth instant payments report November 19.

Speaking to The Guardian Post in Nairobi, Kenya, AfricaNenda Foundation's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Sabine F. Mensah, explained that five years of research have provided sufficient data to examine emerging trends and assess the contribution of instant payments to financial inclusion.

“Something else that has been important for us, is whether we can attempt to measure the impact of this journey on financial and economic inclusion. With five years of data, we are able to do it and we want to present that in November,” Mensah stated.

She said the upcoming report would continue documenting new payment systems, their operational models and the extent to which they facilitate transactions between different financial institutions. 

The report, she added, will also incorporate findings from additional consumer surveys, providing more information on how individuals use digital payment services.

“With five years now of tracking, the amount of data, the precision, and the richness of the data analytics we can do in terms of the trends that we have seen in the last five years is greater. Five years is long enough to see trends rather than just blips,” Mensah 

Africa's instant payment systems expand

AfricaNenda Foundation says the continent has recorded continued growth in instant payment infrastructure since the first SIIPS report was published in 2022. 

In a video shared ahead of the Mauritius launch, AfricaNenda Foundation's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Akinwale Goodluck, indicated that Africa currently has 33 instant payment systems operating across 25 countries.

He disclosed that five new national instant payment systems became operational in 2025, while approximately 400 million Africans remain excluded from the benefits of inclusive digital payment services. 

Akinwale also spotlighted Liberia's experience, explaining that the country launched its instant and inclusive payment system within 73 days without downtime during the implementation period.

“We have broken the myth that it takes years to launch a digital payment system. We have changed the narrative from how long to who is next and how do we make it work for everyone,” Akinwale stated.

He added that the Mauritius gathering would provide an opportunity for policymakers, regulators and operators to discuss the findings and identify measures to expand access to instant payment services.

About the SIIPS report

The State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Africa report is an annual publication by AfricaNenda Foundation that tracks the development, adoption and inclusivity of instant payment systems across the continent. 

First published in 2022, the report examines the number and types of operational payment systems, their accessibility, interoperability and use by consumers and businesses.

The publication also provides research findings, country case studies and recommendations intended to support decision-making by governments, central banks, regulators and payment service providers. 

The 2026 edition will build on five years of research, with greater attention to the impact of instant payments on financial inclusion and economic participation.

The findings will be presented during the November 19 launch in Mauritius, alongside discussions involving institutions responsible for developing, regulating and operating Africa's digital payment infrastructure.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3955 of FridayOctober 30, 2026