The COMESA Clearing House (CCH) is in the process of implementing the COMESA cross border Digital Retail Payment Platform, under the Digital Financial Inclusion (DFI) Program funded by the Gates Foundation. This initiative will deliver an instant, affordable and interoperable system to foster Regional Financial Inclusion.
The platform aims to:

1. Enhance financial inclusion by providing accessible digital financial services (DFS) to underserved populations, including women and informal businesses.
2. Foster economic integration and intra-regional trade by enabling efficient digital transactions for individuals and MSMEs.
3. Create a robust digital ecosystem by connecting financial institutions, mobile network operators, and merchants.The DFI program has undergone two distinct phases thus far. In the first phase, a comprehensive Business Case Report was formulated. This report guided the development of a model policy framework for a regional digital retail payments system tailored to MSMEs within the COMESA region. Concurrently, guidelines for operating this digital retail payments system were developed. Subsequently, the Business Case and Model Policy Framework provided the blueprint for the second phase.

   In the second phase, the Business Model for the execution and management of a COMESA Digital Retail Payment Platform (DRPP) was developed, catering specifically to MSMEs operating within the COMESA region. This Business Model was crafted in accordance with the Level One Design Principles (L1DP) put forth by the Level One Project, focusing on the specific needs of low-income cross-border traders. The Business Model report underwent validation through four stakeholder Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs) and was subsequently noted by the COMESA Committee of Governors of Central Banks (CCGCB).

   Prior to commissioning of the DRPP, a comprehensive operational plan was developed and validated during the Fifth Stakeholder Public-Private Dialogue, which took place on 25th July 2023, in Lilongwe, Malawi. Following the dialogue, a workshop was conducted to discuss the planned Proof of Concept (PoC), focusing on cross-border transactions between Zambia and Malawi. This workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions regarding the intricacies of the PoC.

   Download the ToRs for Consultancy to Assess and Integrate Gender Responsiveness into the COMESA DRPP