EAC Moves to Implement Regional Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan
The East African Community (EAC) has inaugurated three Technical Working Groups to oversee and provide technical guidance on the implementation of a regional masterplan aimed at making cross-border payments faster, safer and more accessible across the bloc.
The groups were inaugurated during the first joint meeting of the Technical Working Groups, held in Mombasa, Kenya, from August 18 to 22, 2026. The five-day meeting brought together representatives from the central banks of all EAC Partner States, the EAC Secretariat and development partners, including the World Bank, GIZ, FSD Network and TradeMark Africa.
The meeting, chaired by the Bank of Uganda, with the National Bank of Rwanda serving as rapporteur, marked a shift from planning to implementation of the EAC Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan.
The masterplan provides a regional roadmap for developing an integrated, secure, efficient, affordable and inclusive cross-border payments ecosystem.
It is built around four pillars: governance, legal, regulatory and oversight; infrastructure; inclusivity; and capacity building. Together, the pillars contain 20 strategic initiatives intended to strengthen cross-border payment systems across the EAC region.
During the meeting, the Technical Working Groups reviewed three key documents that will guide implementation of the masterplan.
The first was a Monitoring and Reporting Framework, which sets out results chains, SMART indicators, baselines and targets for the 20 strategic initiatives. The framework is also aligned with the G20 targets for improving cross-border payments.
The groups also reviewed a proposed Regional Cooperative Oversight Framework, which seeks to clarify responsibilities between home and host supervisors, strengthen information sharing, and establish mechanisms for crisis management and dispute resolution.
The third document, the Mutual Recognition Framework, proposes a regional passporting mechanism that would allow appropriately licensed payment service providers in one EAC Partner State to offer authorised services in other Partner States, subject to applicable requirements.
Speaking on behalf of the EAC Secretariat, EAC Senior Statistician Samuel Njuru reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to working with Partner States, development partners and other stakeholders to accelerate regional integration in cross-border payments.
“Stronger and more integrated cross-border payment systems are critical to facilitating intra-regional trade, expanding access to financial services and advancing the broader EAC regional integration agenda,” Njuru said.
The meeting also highlighted the need for closer coordination with the Monetary Affairs Committee Sub-Committees and other regional structures to ensure that ongoing initiatives complement one another, avoid duplication and support effective implementation of the masterplan.
The establishment of the three Technical Working Groups marks a key step in turning the EAC Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan into concrete measures aimed at creating a more connected regional digital financial system.
The EAC Secretariat and Partner States, supported by development partners, are expected to continue implementation through coordinated interventions in policy, regulation, infrastructure and capacity building.
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