Banjul, The Gambia – October 23, 2024 The Institute for Inclusive Digital Africa (IIDiA) and the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) are holding a technical training workshop on the Mojaloop real-time payment switch. This intensive capacity-building program, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will empower Gambian financial institutions with essential skills to implement and operate this interoperability infrastructure.
From October 23 to November 1, 2024, IIDiA and Mojaloop will host an intensive training program in Banjul. The workshop will focus on providing technical expertise in Mojaloop’s open-source tools and technologies, ensuring that participants—including Digital Financial Service Providers, Microfinance Institutions, Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations, Mobile Money Operators, and relevant Government Agencies—are prepared to build and manage the Mojaloop SWITCH in The Gambia. This diverse participation ensures broad ecosystem readiness for the upcoming Mojaloop implementation.
The goal of the training is to develop local capacity and strengthen The Gambia’s digital payment ecosystem by creating a secure, interoperable, and scalable platform for instant payments.
“This training workshop is fundamental to our strategy of building local technical expertise,” explains Mathieu SOGLONOU, Executive President of IIDiA. “By equipping Gambia financial sector professionals with deep knowledge of Mojaloop’s architecture and operations, we ensure sustainable, long-term success of digital payment innovations in The Gambia.”
“With The Gambia’s large diaspora, remittances are crucial to our economy. Mojaloop will make cross-border payments faster, more affordable, and secure, while reducing costs for service providers,” added Hassan Jallow, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (MOCDE).
The workshop curriculum covers critical areas of the Mojaloop system, including:
Integration methodologies for real-time payments, settlement mechanisms, security protocols, and transaction monitoring systems. Participants will engage in hands-on sessions, working directly with Mojaloop’s open-source technology stack to gain practical implementation experience.
The training initiative has garnered strong support from key stakeholders including the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, GamPost, GamSwitch, and the Information Technology Association of The Gambia (ITAG). Their participation underscores the industry-wide commitment to advancing The Gambia’s digital payment capabilities.
“This capacity-building program represents a crucial step in our journey toward a robust digital payment infrastructure,” states Governor Buah Saidy of the Central Bank of The Gambia. “The knowledge and skills gained from this workshop will enable our financial institutions to effectively implement and manage instant payment systems, ultimately advancing financial inclusion across The Gambia.”
By the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be equipped to: lead technical integration projects within their institutions, manage real-time payment operations, and contribute to the broader development of MOJALOOP in The Gambia’s digital payment ecosystem.
About IIDiA
The Institute for Inclusive Digital Africa (IIDiA) is dedicated to promoting digital transformation across Africa by increasing access to digital infrastructure and inclusive financial services for individuals, businesses, and governments. Through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions, IIDiA works to bridge the digital divide and foster sustainable economic development.
Media Contact:
Ebenezer Immanuel Obeng-Akrofi,
Knowledge Management Analyst / Institute for Inclusive Digital Africa
Peace Carmen Ahouissou
Senior Communications Manager / Institute for Inclusive Digital Africa
