Episode 9 – Breaking Barriers to Everyday Finance (September 2025)

In the new episode of Breaking Banks Africa, host Nadine Zoro explores how Wave, a mobile money company, is breaking barriers to financial inclusion across Francophone West Africa. Guest Coura Carine Sene, General Manager WAEMU Region, Wave Mobile Money, shares her journey from studying and working in France to returning to Senegal to drive change. Wave prioritizes affordability and simplicity—lowering transaction fees from as high as 12% to just 1%—to make digital finance accessible for underserved communities. Their approach builds trust by focusing on user-friendly services for people new to financial tools, many of whom are illiterate or lack smartphones. Wave innovates with solutions like QR-coded cards that work offline, enabling rural users to transact through agents. The episode also highlights the challenges of navigating regulation and partnering with telcos, stressing the importance of collaboration with regulators to scale services. Overall, Wave demonstrates how fintech can foster inclusion, economic activity, and empowerment through practical, low-cost innovation.

Connect with our guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coura-carine-tine-sene

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