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

PresentationCross-border payment technologies: Innovations and challenges
PresentationSouth 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

PaperGlobal cross-border payments: A US$1 quadrillion evolving market 
PaperInvisible senders: Gendered challenges in cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa

 

11:30 – 12:25

Research session: The interaction between migration and international remittances

PresentationMigration and cross-border payments: Analysing remittance dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa
PresentationRemittance 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