Let us connect you with global digital leaders from across Africa.

The entire ecosystem will come together physically at MWC Africa 2022, and we want you to join us on our virtual journey to MWC.

Join our virtual conference series throughout 2021 for industry defining discussions from Mobile for Development and the opportunity to forge new partnerships.

Register Here

Tuesday, 28 September (11:15-12:00 CAT)
Mobile for Development Summit
Accelerating Digital And Financial Inclusion In Africa

This session will focus on two of the Mobile for Development Reports:

Join us to hear the latest key insights from the State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report (SOMIC) 2021. Find out the latest statistics on mobile internet connectivity that highlight the progress made towards closing the coverage and usage gaps across the world and particularly that of Sub-Saharan Africa. In a year of unprecedented stress, loss and continuous uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, access to mobile internet has become even more critical. This report will show progress to date and the key challenges to be addressed ensuring we are not leaving anyone behind in an increasingly connected world. This report was funded by our partners; The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) together with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Tune in to the second part of this session to hear key insights from the GSMA State of the Industry Report (SOTIR) on Mobile Money, including trends, highlights and opportunities of mobile money across Africa. Over the last year of unparalleled uncertainty, it is clear that mobile technology and mobile money have played a significant role in keeping people connected, delivering vital financial support and providing safe, contactless ways to pay for food, electricity and other life essentials.

With a special guest, we will examine the impact of COVID-19 on the region, the regulatory landscape and explore what the next 10 years of Mobile Money evolution in Africa might look like. This report was funded by our partner: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Wednesday, 29 September (11:15-12:00 CAT)
Mobile for Development Summit
Enabling Services with Mobile Money: Emerging Innovations in Africa

Mobile money has become a key innovation enabler in financial inclusion and beyond. In 2021, as Africa continues to battle with COVID-19, new mobile money enabled services, from credit and savings to insurance, are emerging to build resilience and support more secure livelihoods.

Mobile money providers and tech innovators are expanding their business models and forming partnerships to enable such services.

This session will highlight examples of emerging innovations that leverage mobile money for financial inclusion, exploring the role of mobile money providers and other ecosystem actors in the journey from innovation to scale.

Thursday, 30 September (09:00-09:30 CAT)
Keynote 5
Theme: Digitalization in Africa

With the outbreak of the COVID-19, digital technology has never been more important. It has kept us globally connected, opened up new opportunities, enabled businesses to keep operating and has driven innovation. For Africa digital transformation provides an opening to boost economic growth, create jobs and entice investment in the region. This session will look at what digital innovations have been successful over the past 12 months and what’s next in Africa’s digital revolution.

Mobile for Development will host this keynote: Powering youth employment in a digitalizing Africa; the opportunities and challenges

Job creation for youth in Africa has been a major challenge but digitalisation has opened new pathways into employment and entrepreneurship across the region. Furthermore, the mobile industry is a key player in the creation of formal and informal jobs and income-generating opportunities for youth. This 30 minute session explores how digitalization is transforming the job market and building livelihoods for Africa’s youth, the impact of the mobile industry, and how partnerships can further enhance and improve opportunities for youth.

Thursday, 30 September (11:30-12:15 CAT)
Mobile for Development Summit
Unlocking Africa’s Digital Economy

According to Google and the IFC, Africa’s Internet economy has the potential to reach $180 billion by 2025, accounting for 5.2% of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). By 2050, the projected potential contribution could reach $712 billion, 8.5% of the continent’s GDP.

Driving this growth is a combination of increased access to faster and better-quality Internet connectivity, a rapidly expanding urban population, a growing tech talent pool, a vibrant start-up ecosystem, and Africa’s commitment to creating the world’s largest single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Through the rollout of their Digital Transformation Centres across Africa, German Development Cooperation with their initiative Invest for Jobs is a key contributor to the rise of Africa’s digital economy, supporting African governments and local innovation ecosystems on the journey to becoming digital nations. In this session, you will learn more about several initiatives that help to unlock the digital economy in Africa. A focus will be on the support German Development Cooperation is providing to the continent and how their current pilot in Tunisia supports the African digital transformation. Fruitful insights are provided about the ongoing partnership with the GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator in the Tunisia through the recently launched Mobile Innovation Lab.

In the second part of this session, a panel of experts will discuss the role of government, mobile operators and investors in the rise of Africa digital economy.

Tune into this session to hear about:

• What are governments currently doing to lead the rise of their digital economy and what are the current best practices in Africa?
• What is the role of mobile operators in contributing to that common goal? What else can be achieved beyond connectivity? What are the best practices?
• What are the key sectors for investment and where are the current gaps?
• How can donors bring all those stakeholders together and ensure high impact and sustainability of digital transformation?

Find out more