The West African Development Bank headquarters in Lomé, Togo.
To download a printable version of the programme, click HERE
Monday, 22 October 2018
17:00: OPENING
Keynote address: Trevor Manuel, former South African Minister of Finance
Chairperson: Prof Saurabh Sinha, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Internationalisation, UJ
Panelists: Nnamdi Oranye, founder, Disrupting Africa / FinTech Author
Stephen Mwaura Nduati, Central Bank of Kenya / FinTech Consultant
19:00: Reception
Tuesday, 23 October 2018
8:30 – 9:00: Welcome and Introduction
9:00 – 12:00 Session 1: Mobile Money and Digital Payments
Current trends, developments and challenges in the field of mobile phone-based payment technologies and other forms of digital payments, as well as their impact on the lives of users in African countries.
Chair: Peter Vale
Panelists: Dare Okoudjou, CEO MFS Africa
Mario Fernandez, CEO, Gosocket
Dr Mesfin Fikre Woldmariam, University of Addis Ababa
Rapporteur: Sean Maliehe
14:00 – 17:00 Session 2: Regulation
Issues of regulation, oversight, and legislative challenges relating to the recent emergence of mobile money, the digitization of payments, and financial inclusion. Implications of regulation for fin-tech companies and the challenge of reconciling financial inclusion and consumer protection.
Chair: John Sharp
Panelists: Stephen Mwaura Nduati, Central Bank of Kenya / FinTech Consultant
Prof Olufunmilayo Arewa, Temple University
Rapporteur: Marc Wegerif
Wednesday, 24 October 2018
9:00 – 12:00 Session 3: Agent networks
The role of merchants and individual agents in the extension of mobile money networks in Africa, especially with regard to the disbursement of digital/ mobile payments such as remittances or social grants and the establishment of a branchless banking infrastructure.
Chair: Marc Wegerif
Panelists: Valentine Obi, CEO, eTranzact
Dr Sean Maliehe, University of Pretoria
Rapporteur: John Sharp
14:00 – 17:00 Session 4: Remittances
Implications, opportunities, and challenges of the recent spread of mobile money and other payment technologies in the field of remittances and other cross-border payments.
Chair: Peter Vale
Panelists: Nnamdi Oranye, Founder, Disrupting Africa / FinTech Author
Dr Sibel Kusimba, American University, Washington DC
Rapporteur: Sean Maliehe
Thursday, 25 October 2018
9:00 – 12:00 Session 5: G2P Payments
The use of electronic government-to-person payments such as social pensions and child benefits to advance financial inclusion in developing economies and the role of new payment technologies in this field.
Chair: Sean Maliehe
Panelists: Prof Solène Morvant-Roux, University of Geneva
Lena Gronbach, University of Pretoria
Rapporteur: Riaan de Villiers
14:00 – 15:15 Session 6: Insurance
Current trends and developments in the provision of micro insurance to low-income customers and the emergence of mobile phone-based insurance as an alternative to traditional insurance products.
Chair: John Sharp
Panelist: Jeremy Leach, CEO Inclusivity Solutions
Rapporteur: Lena Gronbach
15:45 – 17:00 Session 7: Start-up Capital
Typical challenges faced by fintech start-ups in the process of raising capital to market their innovations. Different ways of raising start-up capital in theory and practice, and the resulting implications for entrepreneurs and funders.
Chair: John Sharp
Panelist: Sechaba Ngwenya, CEO Creditable
Rapporteur: Lena Gronbach
Friday, 26 October 2018
9:00 – 12:00 Session 8: The Blockchain
The emergence of block chain technology as a potential vehicle for financial inclusion and other forms of inclusive development.
Chair: Lena Gronbach
Panelists: Gerhard van Deventer, South African Reserve Bank
Ross McEwan, Wala / Dala Foundation
Prof John Sharp, University of Pretoria
Rapporteur: Peter Vale
14:00 – 15:00: Closing session
SESSION FORMATS
The format of each session will be as follows:
Presentation by innovator : 30 minutes
Questions and clarification: 15 minutes
Presentation by academic: 30 minutes
Questions and clarification: 15 minutes
Tea break: 30 minutes
Discussion: 60 minutes
Sessions 6 and 7 will consist of a 30-minute presentation, followed by a 45-minute discussion.