Advancing Cross-Border Payments Conference

Conference | Advancing Cross-Border Payments

Watch | Enhancing cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa

Read | Navigating local challenges and learning from other regions

Advancing Cross-Border Payments Conference – Identifying Opportunities and Challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa is a flagship initiative under South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

Hosted by the South African Reserve Bank in partnership with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures from 22–23 October 2025.

Building on the enthusiastic response to our call for papers, the conference programme will bring together leading researchers, policymakers, and industry practitioners to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa.

With a carefully curated mix of academic presentations, policy perspectives, and practitioner insights, this event will serve as a unique platform for dialogue and collaboration, helping to shape the future of cross-border payments.

Find the full programme here.

Day 1 | Wednesday, 22 October 2025

09:10 – 10:00	Setting the stage: The global and regional perspective Presentation \| Cross-border payment technologies: Innovations and challenges Presentation \| South Africa to the rest of SADC: Remittances market assessment Paper \| South Africa to the rest of SADC: Remittances market assessment
10:00 – 10:55	Research session: Cross-border payments from a macro–and microeconomic perspective Presentation \| Global cross-border payments: A US$1 quadrillion evolving market Presentation \| Invisible senders: Gendered challenges in cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa Paper \| Global cross-border payments: A US$1 quadrillion evolving market Paper \| Invisible senders: Gendered challenges in cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa
11:30 – 12:25	Research session: The interaction between migration and international remittances Presentation \| Migration and cross-border payments: Analysing remittance dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa Presentation \| Remittance behaviours among selected Nigerian and Ethiopian migrant communities Paper \| Migration and cross-border payments: Analysing remittance dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa Paper \| Remittance behaviours among selected Nigerian and Ethiopian migrant communities
13:30 – 14:25	Policy panel: How to unlock cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa?
14:25 – 15:20	Research session: Drivers of cross-border payments in the region Presentation \| An empirical analysis of factors that influence informal cross-border money payments in the SADC region Presentation \| Inbound and outbound remittances in WAEMU countries: Exploring the dynamics and the main drivers Paper \| An empirical analysis of factors that influence informal cross-border money payments in the SADC region Paper \| Inbound and outbound remittances in WAEMU countries: Exploring the dynamics and the main drivers
15:45 – 16:40	Research session: Payments in the fast lane – driving efficiency in cross-border transactions Presentation \| Payment performance in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of speed in financial transformation Presentation \| Send me money ASAP: Assessing the impact of fast payment systems on the cost of remittances Paper \| Payment performance in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of speed in financial transformation Paper \| Send me money ASAP: Assessing the impact of fast payment systems on the cost of remittances
16:40 – 17:35	Policy panel: Trust and transparency – leveraging payments pre-validation and confirmation of payee solutions

Day 2 | Thursday, 23 October 2025

08:45 – 09:00	Keynote remarks on the South African G20 Presidency priorities Keynote address by Governer Lesetja Kganyago
09:00 – 09:50	Setting the stage: Shaping payments and digital finance Presentation \| Retail payments evolution: The rise of instant payments Presentation \| The impact of digital finance channels on saving and investment decisions in South Africa Paper \| The impact of digital finance channels on saving and investment decisions in South Africa
09:50 – 10:45	Policy panel: Interoperability and innovation – connecting existing infrastructures or starting from scratch
11:05 – 12:00	Policy panel: Cross-border payment opportunities and challenges – perspectives from market stakeholders
12:00 – 12:55	Research session: Measuring what matters – leveraging granular data to drive change in crossborder payments Presentation \| Understanding cost patterns in remittance corridors of sub-Saharan Africa: A data-driven analysis of infrastructure and inclusion gaps Presentation \| Decoding cross-border payment flows in sub-Saharan Africa: A high-frequency analysis of granular platform data Paper \| Understanding cost patterns in remittance corridors of sub-Saharan Africa: A data-driven analysis of infrastructure and inclusion gaps Paper \| Decoding cross-border payment flows in sub-Saharan Africa: A high-frequency analysis of granular platform data

R2030
R186
SABOR
ZARONIA

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Advancing Cross-Border Payments Conference – Identifying Opportunities and Challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa is a flagship initiative under South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

Day 1 | Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Day 2 | Thursday, 23 October 2025