The GSMA Mobile for Development team drives innovation in digital technology to reduce inequalities in our world. Singularly positioned at the intersection of the mobile ecosystem and the development sector, we stimulate digital innovation to deliver both sustainable business and large-scale socio-economic impact for the underserved. Our work has impacted 220 million lives to date – and counting.
This year at MWC Kigali, we once again hosted our Mobile for Development Theatre, which provided a unique platform for insightful keynotes, panels and discussions across topics such as digital inclusion, gender, innovation for impact and more. The Mobile Money Leadership Forum also made a welcome return. Watch these video recordings to catch up with our sessions.
Day 1 – Tuesday, 17 October
Leveraging Investments to Accelerate Digital Agriculture Ecosystems
Agritech innovations play a pivotal role in delivering smallholder-focused agricultural transformation in Africa. Yet, the agritech sector remains fragmented, hindering progress. Limited partnerships and investments hamper the growth of digital agriculture initiatives and create barriers to inclusive access for smallholder farmers. Addressing these challenges requires a deeper understanding of emerging trends, investor priorities, and the factors that influence investment decisions in digital agriculture.
On Day 1 of the event, we hosted the session ‘Leveraging Investments to Accelerate Digital Agriculture Ecosystems’ where we discussed the critical role of agritech investing in the expansion of the digital agriculture ecosystem. Moderated by Matthew Strickland, Market Engagement Director, AgriTech at the GSMA (UK) , the expert panel featured:
– Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula – Co-Founder/ Chief Growth and Product Manager at FarmSpeak (Nigeria)
– Ahmed Ben Achballah – Founder & CEO at MooMe (Tunisia)
– Loraine Achar-Ogada – Senior Investment Associate at Founders Factory Africa (Kenya)
– Niraj Varia – CEO at iProcure (Kenya)
Catch up with this session here:
Day 2 – Wednesday, 18 October
Collaborating for Humanitarian Impact: The Value of Partnerships
When mobile network operators (MNOs) and humanitarian practitioners work together, their unique core competencies and expertise can improve the coordination, effectiveness, and outcomes in humanitarian action. Humanitarian challenges such as natural hazard disasters, food insecurity, and forced displacement are on the rise and ever prevalent in East Africa. Long-term strategic partnerships between MNOs, governments, and humanitarian actors provide sustainable solutions that deliver critical assistance to those in need.
Catch up with this session we hosted on Day 2 of the event, to hear how GSMA members and partners in the region are working together to address humanitarian challenges:
Sustainable impact: scaling digital innovation in Africa
Since 2013, in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and other donors, the GSMA has supported more than 130 organisations with equity-free grant funding to test and scale innovative digital technologies and business models that boost local ecosystems, improve livelihoods and drive prosperity. Several of these have scaled over the years, whether through expansion, additional follow-on funding or strategic partnerships.
On Day 2 of the event, we hosted the session ‘Sustainable impact: scaling digital innovation in Africa’ where we discussed scaling strategies and raising investment. Moderated by Simone Hinrichsen, Insights Manager at the GSMA Innovation Fund, the expert panel featured:
– Luisa Odell – Innovation Advisor at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
– Elizabeth Okuneye – Head of Customer Success at Hello Tractor
– Eva Waweru – Senior Associate, Communications – EMEAA Village Capital
– Gerald Otim – CEO and Founder at Ensibuuko
– Michael Ogundare – Founder and CEO at Crop2Cash
– Niklas Simola – Investment Manager at Finnfund
– Serge Nsanzineza – Innovation Ecosystem Analyst at Rwanda Innovation Fund
Catch up with this session here:
A smarter future for African cities
By 2050, African cities are expected to be home to an additional billion people. This dramatic growth is expected to pose challenges to governments, the private sector and individuals, but it also presents immense opportunities to service and engage with a young, growing, increasingly digital population that will be key to the continent’s economic transformation.
Digital technologies, such as IoT, have a critical role to play and enable the development of smart cities that are improving everyday life to make them more liveable, sustainable, and resilient. Digital innovation in cities is also unlocking access to new financing instruments, which are critical for cities to overcome the huge investment gap needed to confront climate change and fulfil the SDG agenda.
On Day 2 of the event, we hosted a session in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT in Rwanda, that brought together private sector innovators, city leaders, funders, mobile operators, and enabling organisations to discuss the role of technology and innovative financing in advancing inclusive climate-resilient urban development.
Catch up with this session here:
Day 3 – Thursday, 19 October
Accessing finance for prosperity: Unveiling Mobile Money’s Socio-Economic Benefits
Mobile money is an important pathway to financial inclusion for the unbanked in low- and middle-income countries, due to widespread mobile ownership and well-established agent networks. Beyond access to an account, mobile money has also reduced poverty in various countries – findings which have mostly been limited to academic papers.
On Day 3 of the event, we hosted the Mobile Money Leadership Forum session ‘Accessing finance for prosperity : Unveiling mobile money’s socio-economic benefits’ where we discussed the socio-economic impact of mobile money on key macro-economic metrics ; including mobile money’s impact on GDP growth and job creation. Moderated by Rishi Raithatha, Director Data & Insights, Mobile Money at the GSMA , the expert panel featured:
– Angelica Pesha – CEO at Tigo Pesa
– Anne Catherine Tchokonte – CEO at Orange Money, Cameroon
– Richard Yego – Managing Director & CEO at MTN Mobile Money Uganda
– Kalvin Bahia – Principal Economist at GSMA Intelligence
Catch up with this session here:
Transforming financial services for all: Innovations in African Fintech
With over half of all registered mobile money accounts and a rapidly increasing number of fintech start-ups, Africa has become a hotbed for fintech innovations that are revolutionizing access to financial services.
On Day 3 of the event, we hosted a Mobile Money Leadership Forum fireside chat featuring the following speakers:
– Nyiva Musyoka – Senior Market Engagement Manager, Mobile Money at GSMA
– Ali Irfan – Chief Customer Experience Officer at JazzCash
At our session ‘Transforming financial services for all : Innovations in African fintech’ we discussed the transformative power of mobile money, fintech, and innovation in Africa’s financial landscape.
Moderated by Bart-Jan Pors, Senior Director Mobile Money & Inclusive Fintech at GSMA, the expert panel featured:
– Aida Diarra – Senior Vice President & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa
– Erwan Gelebart – Chief Executive Officer at AXIAN Open Innovation and Fintech
– Serigne Dioum – Group Chief Fintech Officer at MTN Group
Harnessing Financial Literacy to Counter Mobile Money Fraud
With over half of all registered mobile money accounts and a rapidly increasing number of fintech start-ups, Africa has become a hotbed for fintech innovations that are revolutionizing access to financial services.
The role of financial literacy in mitigating the success of fraudulent activities cannot be overstated. Financial literacy equips individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their finances, which in turn helps them identify and avoid fraudulent schemes. Additionally, it empowers individuals to take control of their finances, reducing their vulnerability to scams and fraud. It also enables them to understand the importance of protecting personal information such as PIN and ID details.
Financial literacy is also critical for businesses helping them develop effective internal controls that prevent fraudulent activities from occurring within the organisation.
On Day 3 of the event, we hosted the Mobile Money Leadership Forum session ‘Harnessing financial literacy to counter mobile money fraud’ where we discussed the the critical role financial literacy plays in mitigating the success of fraudulent activities. Moderated by Ahmed Dermish, Lead Specialist, Policy and Government Advocacy, Inclusive Digital Ecosystems at UNCDF, the expert panel featured:
– Juanita Omanga – Deputy Director Banking & Payment Services, Head National Payment Systems at CBK
– Gwen Snyder – Senior Advisor, Gender and Financial & Digital Inclusion at USAID
– Louise Cottar – Strategic Adviser at Hormuud Telecom
– Mary Gichuki – Advocacy Manager, Mobile Money at GSMA
– Rosemary Mpofu – Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at Consumer Council of Zimbabwe
– Victor Muga Odada – Head of M-PESA payments at Safaricom PLC
Our work is made possible by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Foreign,Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency (Sida), and Visa, and supported by the GSMA and its members.