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Platform for Remittances, Investments and Migrants’ Entrepreneurship in Africa (PRIME Africa)

Improving the management of remittances and their use for development impact in Africa

 


 

 

Remittances sent by migrant workers to and within Africa were over US$95 billion in 2021, benefiting over 200 million family members of African migrant workers, the majority of whom live in rural areas (55 per cent of the population).

In Africa, one out of five people send or receive international remittances, without considering domestic flows. Most remittances received in Africa cover daily needs, with a significant amount (25 per cent) available for savings or investment.

Bringing these funds into the formal financial system can dramatically increase their impact. When remittances are deposited into financial institutions, they can benefit both the individual and the community. 

With better financial education and a broader range of financial services to choose from, remittance recipients are empowered to make financial choices that can advance them towards financial resilience. The ability to expand financial services, however, depends on institutional capacity, willingness to offer services to low-income people, and on regulatory frameworks that enables them to do so.

What is IFAD doing?

The PRIME Africa programme, co-financed by the European Union, is addressing these development opportunities through innovations, partnerships, and scalable products that promote cheaper, faster, and safer remittance transfers.

By maximizing the impact of remittances for millions of families, PRIME Africa is fostering local economic opportunities in the following seven Africa countries. In Cabo Verde and Ethiopia, the FFR has carried out country studies to assess opportunities to be implemented by the initiative:

Country diagnostics Ongoing Projects

Cabo Verde: English | Portuguese

Ethiopia

Ghana (2023)

Kenya (2023)

Morocco: English | French

Senegal: English | French

South Africa

The Gambia (2023)

Uganda

Ghana

Kenya

Morocco

Senegal

South Africa

The Gambia

Uganda

Regional

Contact

Asset Publisher

Francine Dove

Remittance and Inclusive Digital Finance Specialist (Ghana)

f.dove@ifad.org

Leonard Makuvaza

Remittances and Inclusive Digital Finance Officer (South Africa, The Gambia)

l.makuvaza@ifad.org

David Berno

Remittances and Inclusive Digital Finance Officer (Kenya, Uganda)

d.berno@ifad.org

Frédéric Ponsot

Senior Technical Specialist on Remittances, Diaspora and Inclusive Finance

f.ponsot@ifad.org

Related news

Asset Publisher

Senegal: IFAD partners with private sector to unleash financial inclusion in rural areas

February 2023 - NEWS
IFAD has developed two new public-private partnerships to enhance access to cheaper, faster and safer remittances, the hard-earned money sent home by migrant workers. New partnerships aim to increase access to digital and financial services and products across rural areas of Senegal.

Cape Verde: digital remittances have the potential to boost rural development, says IFAD report

December 2022 - NEWS
A new country diagnostic report by IFAD, funded by the European Union, identifies the hidden potential of using digital remittances, the money sent home by its migrant workers through digital means, to boost overall socio-economic development in Cape Verde.

New app ‘PostalPay’ will slash the cost of sending money from Europe to Uganda

October 2022 - NEWS
IFAD, Inpay, a cross-border payments company, and its subsidiary company Eurogiro, a global postal cross-border payments network, have joined forces to make the cost of sending money through mobile channels from Europe to Uganda four times cheaper.

Call for Proposals: Remittance Innovation Champions 2022 South Africa

September 2022 - NEWS
The Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR) of IFAD is pleased to announce the Remittance Innovation Champions 2022 – South Africa (RIC22-SA) Call for Proposals.

Related publications

Asset Publisher

RemitSCOPE: Ghana Country Diagnostic

May 2023
This Ghana country diagnostic was prepared in accordance with the PRIME Africa goals.

RemitSCOPE: Kenya Country Diagnostic

May 2023
This diagnostic provides an assessment of Kenya’s remittance market, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, using a market-oriented approach.

RemitSCOPE: The Gambia Country Diagnostic

May 2023
The Gambia country diagnostic has been prepared in accordance with the PRIME Africa goals, to provide more in-depth analysis and additional evidence for the areas of action identified in the country road map.

Expanding digital remittances and microfinance products towards financial inclusion in The Gambia

March 2023
This PRIME Africa project enhances the financial resilience and economic empowerment of remittance families through cost‑effective, digitalized remittance flows and innovations for financial inclusion.