Card Banking in Ethiopia - Adoption, Challenges & OpportunitiesThis key report by Shega, developed under the AKOFADA project, explores the development of card banking channels in Ethiopia, with a focus on ATMs, POS systems, and various forms of payment cards. Despite this progress, access and usage remain uneven, especially in rural regions where infrastructure, digital literacy, and connectivity pose significant challenges.
The report notes that while technological innovations, like biometric-enabled ATMs and prepaid card options, have emerged, the majority of users still engage with cards mainly for withdrawing cash. Broader use of digital payments remains limited. To address these gaps, the report emphasizes the need for targeted efforts to strengthen rural access, expand the functionality of payment tools, enhance user education, and support interoperable solutions through key players like banks, fintechs, and EthSwitch. These efforts are critical to achieving widespread, inclusive financial access across Ethiopia.
The path to mobile money - Users' journey in EthiopiaThe adoption of mobile money in Ethiopia has grown significantly in recent years. Users progress through multiple stages, from initial awareness to becoming regular users and advocates. However, experiences vary based on age, gender, location, and education level, influencing their touchpoints, challenges, and perceptions. Tailoring services to these diverse experiences is essential for improving accessibility and advancing financial inclusion.
How Kifiya's Technology Infrastructure is Empowering Ethiopian MSMEsDiscover how Kifiya Financial Technology is leveraging AI-powered alternative credit scoring to expand access to finance for Ethiopia’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This case study highlights how Kifiya’s Banking Platform as a Service (BPaaS) and Origination & Verification Platform (OVP) are enabling faster, more inclusive, and data-driven lending for underserved businesses, while supporting national goals for 70% financial inclusion by 2025.
Marketing Guide on Promoting the Use of Digital Financial Services in Rural and Semi-Rural AreasExplore how digital financial services (DFS) in Ethiopia are transforming rural and semi-rural communities by fostering financial inclusion, improving access to secure and convenient mobile money, and driving economic empowerment. This comprehensive marketing guide presents data-driven and human-centered strategies to build trust through community engagement, simplify messaging, and leverage authentic Ethiopian storytelling to rural and semi-rural populations.
Integration of Digital Financial Services with Microfinance Institutions in EthiopiaThe case study report explores how Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia are integrating Digital Financial Services (DFS) to enhance financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas. It highlights the progress made by some MFIs in adopting digital tools like mobile wallets and core banking systems, while also
addressing challenges such as high technology costs, limited digital literacy, and infrastructure gaps. The report also emphasizes that digitization is essential for MFIs to expand outreach, improve efficiency, and empower underserved communities.
Integrating Digital Payment into City Bus and Train Ticketing Systems in EthiopiaEthiopia’s public transport system remains largely cash-based, resulting in inefficiencies, revenue leakages, and commuter inconvenience. Passengers often face long queues, lack of change, and security concerns due to the absence of a digital fare collection system. Introducing a digital payment system for city buses and trains will modernize fare collection, enhance transparency, and improve service delivery. It also creates opportunities for financial service providers and Fintechs to integrate transit payments with mobile money and banking services, supporting both urban mobility and broader financial inclusion.
Digital P2P Lending Platform for EthiopiaEthiopia lacks accessible, formal, and digital P2P lending options, forcing individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises MSMEs to rely on informal, inefficient financing. Introducing a digital P2P lending platform will diversify the loan options for individuals or MSMEs and create an investment opportunity for individuals with disposable money to lend funds in exchange for competitive returns.
The Case for a Unified Payment App in EthiopiaCurrently, Ethiopia hosts a multitude of mobile banking and mobile money services, each uniquely tied to its respective provider. Adopting a use case that unifies digital payments in Ethiopia specifically with regards to payment apps would simplify transactions and enhance user convenience.
