2017 ICT4D Conference

In Uganda, Vital Wave teamed with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID to design and pilot a digital payments proof-of-concept system for bulk payments. This work involved extensive coordination of diverse stakeholders and substantial capacity-building efforts among MNOs, banks, aggregators, and USAID partner organizations. Specifically, Vital Wave created a Uganda program office to coordinate and create efficiencies across all stakeholder activities, worked with aggregators to expand their bulk payments capacity, assessed and improved transaction pricing strategies, strengthened MNO operations. The engagement left digital payment tools and processes in the hands of NGOs and private-sector players in the Ugandan mobile money industry. The ecosystem is now growing organically but challenges remain in scaling these solutions to rural areas. 

This presentation will cover the accomplishments, lessons learned, and challenges of implementing bulk payments and DFS in urban and rural areas.