Advancing a Unified Digital Payment Ecosystem: CIDRA Project Leadership at EACON 2025

The CIDRA Project Team Lead at SIMAD University, Dr. Ali Olow Jimale, moderated a high-level panel discussion titled “Advancing a Unified Digital Payment Ecosystem in the East African Community (EAC)” during the East African Conference (EACON), held in Mogadishu from October 7–8, 2025.

The panel brought together experts from academia, financial institutions, and government to explore pathways toward regional financial integration. Discussions focused on addressing emerging cybersecurity threats, enhancing financial inclusion, reducing cross-border transaction costs, and strengthening digital payment infrastructure across the region.

Panelists also emphasized the widespread adoption of mobile money services across East African countries as a critical enabler for accelerating the development of a unified regional digital payment ecosystem.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.