On the sidelines of the International Fintech Forum, Rwanda Information Society Authority, in collaboration with sector partners, held high-level panel discussions examining how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is advancing financial inclusion and enabling more connected financial ecosystems. The panels were held under the themes “Beyond Payments: How Reusable Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are Unlocking Inclusive Financial Ecosystems” and “The Role of Digital Public Infrastructure for Fintech to Accelerate Financial Inclusion.”

Bringing together policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders, the discussions highlighted how shared and interoperable digital systems are transforming financial services and expanding access for underserved communities.

A key takeaway across both panels was that DPI spanning digital identity, interoperable payment systems, and trusted data exchange provides a strong foundation for innovation. It enables fintechs to launch faster, reduce costs, and scale solutions more efficiently.

During the fintech focused panel, Antoine Sebera, The Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Information Society Authority, emphasized that DPI is not a set of isolated systems, but a connected ecosystem combining digital identity, payments, data sharing, and enabling layers such as connectivity and digital literacy to drive inclusion.

Speakers also underscored the importance of interoperability, shared standards, and strong governance frameworks in reducing fragmentation and enabling scalable solutions, including Open Finance and cross border services.

In the “Beyond Payments” panel, Innocent Asiimwe Mudenge, RISA’s Chief Operations and Strategy Officer highlighted Rwanda’s approach to designing DPI as an ecosystem rather than standalone applications. Platforms such as Irembo and eKash were cited as key enablers of accessible, scalable, and people-centered digital services.

The discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration between government, private sector, and partners in building inclusive, trusted, and resilient digital financial systems.