How PawaPay is simplifying Africa’s mobile money economy for businesses
Ismaël Kouassi, Côte d’Ivoire Country Director at PawaPay, describes the fintech as a technological bridge connecting enterprises, banks, and SMEs to Africa’s rapidly expanding mobile money ecosystem. The company’s platform consolidates payments, fund transfers, transaction tracking, and cash flow management into a single integration, eliminating the need for businesses to navigate multiple local systems.
PawaPay’s role goes beyond technical facilitation—it empowers businesses to scale across borders. Whether it’s a remittance provider sending funds to mobile wallets, an internet service provider collecting subscriptions, or a mobility platform paying drivers, the infrastructure ensures seamless financial operations. Meanwhile, mobile money operators retain responsibility for customer accounts and electronic money issuance, while banks manage liquidity and regulatory compliance.
PawaPay currently operates in 20 African markets, with Côte d’Ivoire serving as a strategic gateway. The selection of initial markets was guided by the maturity of mobile money ecosystems and the demand from clients expanding regionally. Today, three key factors drive expansion: customer demand, the robustness of local payment systems, and long-term partnership potential. Companies like Bolt, Yango, LemFi, and GiveDirectly often set the pace for new market rollouts, as their cross-border operations create immediate needs for integrated payment solutions.
What makes the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)—particularly Côte d’Ivoire—such a compelling hub for fintech infrastructure? The region processes nearly $500 billion in mobile money transactions annually, with over 517 million registered accounts. Côte d’Ivoire alone accounts for 28 million registered and 13 million active mobile money accounts, making it a prime market for financial innovation.
The BCEAO’s interoperable instant payment platform (PI-SPI), launched in 2026, further strengthens the region’s appeal. By connecting banks, electronic money institutions, and microfinance lenders, the platform enhances liquidity and reduces transaction delays. For PawaPay, this infrastructure allows a single regulatory or partnership decision in Côte d’Ivoire to ripple across multiple countries, amplifying efficiency and reach.
Why banks partnering with PawaPay gain more than just technical access
Banks and payment infrastructures are complementary, not competitive. While banks handle core functions like liquidity management, compliance, and client relationships, PawaPay expands their reach by integrating mobile money flows into their services. Cross-border transactions between bank accounts and mobile wallets reached $167 billion in 2025, underscoring the need for unified access to diverse payment ecosystems.
This integration is especially transformative for SMEs. Many already collect payments via mobile money, and banks that incorporate these flows into their offerings can provide greater value—such as credit access, savings tools, or payroll services. For businesses scaling across multiple markets, PawaPay’s single-platform approach reduces operational complexity, enabling faster expansion and deeper financial inclusion.
The future of mobile money: beyond transactions to economic integration
The next five years will see mobile money evolve from a payment tool into a foundational infrastructure for commerce. In UEMOA, financial inclusion surged from 56% to 71% between 2018 and 2022, largely driven by digital financial services. Merchant payments alone grew over 40% in 2025, reflecting the shift toward everyday use in sectors like retail, transport, education, and subscriptions.
Transnational payments will also accelerate as African businesses expand regionally. Initiatives like the Ghana-Rwanda mutual recognition agreement highlight a growing trend: regulators are prioritizing harmonized frameworks to support cross-border trade. While models may vary—such as UEMOA’s harmonized regulations—these steps are critical for building a seamless African payments network.
Achieving this vision requires more than technology. It demands collaboration between operators, banks, fintechs, and regulators to address currency management, fraud prevention, and governance. The goal isn’t just faster payments—it’s unlocking trade, investment, and economic participation across the continent.
How PawaPay powers Côte d’Ivoire as a regional fintech hub
For Côte d’Ivoire, PawaPay’s infrastructure reduces barriers to regional expansion. Businesses can onboard multiple markets through one integration, accelerating investment, innovation, and economic integration. The value lies in making funds, services, and opportunities flow effortlessly across borders—a shift that will define the next phase of Africa’s financial development: one that is not just digital, but truly pan-African.