Technology is redefining regulatory frameworks, from AI-driven compliance to blockchain innovations. This session examines how digital transformation is influencing policy, oversight, and the future of financial regulation.

Key angles:
- AI-driven compliance, fraud detection & public-sector digital transformation
- Blockchain applications for payments, trade, land registry, identity, and government records
- Public-private collaboration on responsible AI governance
- Market opportunities for AI infrastructure and cloud data hosting
- AI for Credit Scoring in Emerging Markets
- AI-Powered Compliance Solutions for African Markets

POWER, POLICY, AND PLATFORMS: CONNECTING EXISTING
INFRARTUCTURES OR STARTING FROM SCRATCH?

INCLUSIVE FINANCE FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN A DIGITAL AND BORDERLESS ECONOMY

Perspective:
Highlights strategies to extend financial services to women, youth, MSMEs, rural populations, and displaced communities.
Key Focus Areas:
- Gender-responsive and youth-focused finance
- Digital channels for last-mile inclusion
- Affordable credit, savings, and insurance

Policy and Regulatory Reforms Needed to Attract Islamic Finance and FDI into Africa

Perspective:
Discussing tax neutrality, legal reforms, and investment protections to enable Islamic finance investments

Key angles:
- Regional payment integration and interoperability
- Opportunities for cross-border payment providers, settlement systems, and treasury solutions
- Digitizing trade finance, customs, logistics, and compliance
- Investment opportunities in regional payment infrastructure
- Reducing Remittance Costs Through Technology"
- Diaspora Financial Services Innovation" – Serving 400+ million Africans abroad
- Correspondent Banking Alternatives" – Blockchain-based settlement systems

Key angles:
- Cyber Resilience for Payment Infrastructure – Protecting critical financial systems
- National cybersecurity strategies that support innovation
- Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) opportunities
- Coordinated response frameworks across the financial ecosystem
- Empowering consumers through awareness and digital safety education
- Actionable priorities for governments, regulators, fintechs and big tech
- Investing in skills, standards and scalable cybersecurity infrastructure
- Building safeguards for vulnerable groups (youth, women, MSMEs)
- Strengthening complaint resolution, digital literacy & redress mechanisms
- Emerging cyber threats targeting financial institutions, fintechs and consumers

Key angles:
- Reflections on GIABA's 2nd round evaluation
- Moving from technical compliance to effectiveness - Leveraging on lessons learnt
- Galvanizing political support for national reforms and 3rd round evaluation
- Strengthening public-private partnership in AML/CFT implementation

MODERNIZING AFRICA’S PAYMENT INFRASTRUCTURE: THE ROLE OF ISO 20022 ADOPTION

Perspective:
Examines how adoption of ISO 20022 supports modernization of payment and settlement infrastructure across African markets.
Key Focus Areas:
- Integration with real-time payment systems
- Upgrading legacy banking infrastructure
- Interoperability between domestic and regional payment platform

DIRTY MONEY OR DUE DILIGENCE: BALANCING PRIVACY
AND COMPLIANCE IN COMBATING

Key angles:
- Transition from legacy payment messaging systems to ISO 20022
- National digital ID systems as enablers of financial access
- Risk-based and tiered KYC approaches for inclusion
- Mobile and agent banking integration
- Interoperable payment channels supporting MSMEs and informal sectors
- Lowering transaction costs for cross-border remittances and trade