After over a year of collaborative research, in-depth analysis, and multi-stakeholder consultation, Cenfri is proud to present the East African Community Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan. It is a visionary five-year roadmap to harmonise, modernise and integrate regional payment systems.

This project was made possible through the generous support of the Gates Foundation through TradeMark Africa (TMA). Without the commitment of and extensive inputs by the EAC Secretariat and the EAC Payment System Subcommittee, this assignment would not have been possible.

The Masterplan represents a pivotal moment for regional financial integration. Developed under the leadership of the EAC Monetary Affairs Committee and supported by Cenfri’s expert team, Antonia Esser, Amina Khan, Barry Cooper, and Kgotso Mofulatsi, with contributions from Kinyanjui Mungai, Yuvir Naidoo, and Maja Pekkari, the Masterplan sets out 20 initiatives to make cross-border payments faster, safer, more affordable and more inclusive.

We are grateful to our partners, including Innocent Ephraim and the team at Inclusive Digital Experts Africa (IDEA) and Jean-Louis Perrier, Aboubacar Yacouba, and team from the Africa Cybersecurity Resource Centre (ACRC), whose contributions were invaluable throughout this process.

The Masterplan responds directly to the barriers facing cross-border payments in the region – from regulatory fragmentation and weak interoperability, to high transaction costs and low trust in digital channels. Guided by four strategic pillars, legal and regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure modernisation, inclusivity, and capacity building, the Masterplan sets a clear course for collective action.

This is not the end, it is just the beginning. Cenfri remains committed to supporting implementation and continuing our broader work across East Africa, with several projects underway to build secure, inclusive and future-fit digital economies.

Download the Masterplan to explore the full set of strategic initiatives, the implementation roadmap, and the vision that drives this effort. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss this or our payments research more broadly.