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
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
INTEROPERABLE PAYMENTS ECOSYSTEM
Archie Hesse
Ethiopia Overview
National Payment Gateway, and QR codes.
