About EDPC

The Ethiopia Digital Payment Conference is set to be a pivotal platform for collaboration among public and private sector leaders, as well as development partners. This gathering will be dedicated to reviewing advancements, sharing insights, and developing strategies aimed at bolstering the security, efficiency, and accessibility of the digital payment ecosystem. Additionally, it will focus on expanding meaningful access to financial services.

Where

Ethiopian Skylight Hotel – Airport Road, Addis Ababa 1755

When

5-6 April, 2024 Friday to Saturday

Have A Look At The

Event Schedule

Day 1

5 April, 2024

09:00AM

Opening Remarks

09:15 AM

QR Code Standardization for Merchant Payments

9:30AM

Ethiopia’s Payments System Performance Report

10:30 AM

Setting the scene: DPI For Inclusive, Sustainable Growth In Finance and Payment Sector

Panel Discussion: Leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth in Ethiopia’s Finance and Payments Sector

11:45 PM

Setting the scene: Leveraging data and Ethiopia’s information age to bridge the access to credit gap in key economic sectors.

Panel Discussion: The Power of Data-driven Lending in Promoting Growth, Inclusivie and Prosperity in Ethiopia’s Agribusiness and MSME Sectors

1:00PM

Lunch and Networking

2:15PM

Setting the scene: Translating the UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments into a Framework for Transformation in Ethiopia’s Payments Sector

Panel discussion: Ethiopia’s Digital Payment Landscape and the Outlook for the Future

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNOR?

Day 2

6 April, 2024

11:00AM

Opening Remarks

11:20AM

Presentations

Interoperable Payment Ecosystems

Key insight from GHIPSS on implementing IPS

12:00 PM

Panel discussion: The Role of Fast/Instant Payment Systems in Expanding Adoption of Responsible Digital Payments

12:45PM

Setting the scene: Gender Intentionality Dynamics in Implementing Instant Payment Systems in Ethiopia

Panel Discussion: Powering Financial Equality through Digital Innovations and Digital Financial Services

1:30PM

Lunch and Networking

02:30PM

Presentation: Building the Foundation for Unified Transactions with a Focus on Enabling Merchant Payment Solutions – National Payment Gateway, and QR codes (short video on project status updates)

Panel Discussion: The Challenges and Prospects of Digitizing Merchant Payments in Ethiopia

3:30PM

Presentation: The Role of Digital Payments in Transforming the Public Sector (Agriculture, Health & National ID)

Panel Discussion: The Transformational Impact of Digital Payments in the Public Sector

4:15PM

Fireside Chat: Conversation with H.E. Mamo E. Mihretu

Only questions on digital payments will be considered
5:00PM

Wrap Up and Closing Remarks

Our Speakers and Panelist

H.E. Mamo E. Mihretu

Governor,National Bank of Ethiopia

H.E. Solomon Desta

Vice Governor NBE, EthSwitch Chairperson

Yilebes Addis

CEO, EthSwitch

Opening Remarks

Panel Discussion #1: Leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth in Ethiopia’s Finance and Payments Sector

Yodahe Zemichael

Executive Director, National ID Program

Balcha Reba

Director General, Ethiopian Communications Authority

Dr. Fekade Getahun

Director, E-Commerce, MiNT

Samantha Aching

Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure

Sinit Zeru

Senior Advisor, Innovation and Public Sector Capacity Development Tony Blair Institute

Panel Discussion #2: The Power of Data-driven Lending in Promoting Growth, inclusion and Prosperity in Ethiopia’s Agribusiness and MSME Sectors

Marlon Rawlins

Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank

Deribie Asfaw

CEO, Cooperative Bank of Oromia

Munir Duri

CEO, Kifiya

Abrhame Endrias

Founder and Managing Director, Lersha

Jotework Gudeta

Senior Advisor, Financial Sector, National Bank of Ethiopia

Panel discussion #3: Ethiopia’s Digital Payment Landscape and the Outlook for the Future

Abie Sano

CEO, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

Bruk Adhana Haile

Chief Mobile Money Business Officer, Ethio telecom

Melaku Kebede

CEO, Hibret Bank

Paul Kavavu

General Manager, Safaricom M-PESA

Oswell Kahonde

Better Than Cash Alliance, Africa Regional Lead

Panel discussion #4: The Role of Fast/Instant Payment Systems in Expanding Adoption of Responsible Digital Payments

Yilebes Addis

CEO, EthSwitch

Solomon Damtew

Director, Payment and Settlement Directorate, National Bank of Ethiopia

Archie Hesse

CEO, GHIPSS

Azleena Idris

PayNet

Sabine Mensah

Deputy CEO, AfricaNenda

Panel discussion #5: Powering Financial Equality through Digital Innovations and Digital Financial Services

Marta H/Mariam

Advisor to V/Governor, Financial Institutions Supervision Cluster

Sandzisile Madonsela

Program Analyst, African Union Commission

Sinidu Fekadu

Project Expert, UN Women Ethiopia

Leah Dejenu

Community Organizer Consultant United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Panel Discussion #6: The Challenges and Prospects of Digitizing Merchant Payments in Ethiopia

Yared Endale

Country Lead, Visa

Bernard Laurendeau

CEO, Arifpay

Nael Hailemariam

CEO, Chapa

Abreham Tilahun Abera

CEO, Kacha Digital Financial Service S.C

Tewodros Tassew Kebede

DFS Expert Ethiopia, World Bank

Panel Discussion #7: The Transformational Impact of Digital Payments in the Public Sector

Gezagegn Feyssa

Digital Health System Analyst, Digital Health Lead Executive Officer

Phyllis Kamau

Head of Visa Government Solutions Sub-Saharan Africa

Pazion Cherinet

CEO and founder, Orbit Health

Dawit M. Dame

Senior Strategy Advisor, National ID Program

Ibrahim Mamma Hussein

Country Coordinator, UNCDF-Ethiopia

Presenters

Henok Assefa

Founder and Managing Partner, PRECISE Consult

Abeneazer Wondwossen

Director, Program Management Office, EthSwitch

Marlon Rawlins

Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank

Oswell Kahonde

Better Than Cash Alliance, Africa Regional Lead

Kamya Chandra

Chief Strategy Officer, Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI)

Abreham Kasahun

Payment Systems Consultant, EthSwitch

PRESENTATIONS

PAYMENT SYSTEM AND DIGITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES

LEVERAGING DATA AND ETHIOPIA’S INFORMATION AGE TO BRIDGE THE ACCESS TO CREDIT GAP IN KEY ECONOMIC SECTORS

Translating the UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments into a Framework for Transformation in Ethiopia’s Payments Sector

Person to Merchant
Scheme Rulebook

Download Below

Standard for Interoperable QR Code Payments

Download Below

Advancing Towards a Cashlite Ethiopia- Building a Digital Future Today

Download Below

WATCH ETHIOPIA DIGITAL PAYMENT CONFERENCE HERE