Ethswitch S.C., Ethiopia’s national payment switch, has launched its second five-year strategic plan and an ambitious 15-year roadmap aimed at transforming the country’s financial landscape. The announcement, made at a formal signing ceremony, marks a bold step toward Ethswitch’s vision of becoming “the best payment network in Africa by 2035.”
CEO Yilebes Addis underscored the importance of a clear, forward-looking strategy in solidifying the center’s role within the market. Reflecting on the achievements of the first strategic phase, he said, “The initial five-year strategy was key to defining our mission—promoting interoperability, developing local payment systems, providing national gateways, and building shared infrastructure. We have successfully fulfilled those goals.”
The new strategy aligns closely with Ethiopia’s national development priorities, including the Digital Ethiopia initiative, the National Financial Access Strategy, and the National Digital Payment Strategy 2.
Following a competitive Request for Proposals process, Ethswitch selected Genesis Analytics, an internationally renowned consulting firm, to develop the next phase of its plan. Richard Ketley, partner and director at Genesis Analytics, praised Ethiopia’s rapidly growing financial sector, calling the National Payment Center’s role in everyday digital payments “magic.” He pledged to leverage global best practices to accelerate Ethswitch’s growth over the coming 15 years.
A landmark outcome of this strategic renewal is Ethswitch’s historic partnership with global payments leader Mastercard. This agreement integrates Ethswitch directly into Mastercard’s network via the Mastercard Interface Point (MIP) and Mastercard Global Payment Gateway Services (MPGS).
The partnership enables Ethiopian businesses to accept international payments, boosting cross-border trade and e-commerce opportunities. It also allows local banks to issue co-branded international currency cards for use at ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and online merchants worldwide.
Yilebes described the agreement as “a major milestone in Ethiopia’s digital transition,” spotlighting its role in enhancing the security and sophistication of the national financial ecosystem with globally accepted next-generation payment solutions.
Shehryar Ali, Senior Vice President of Mastercard East Africa, highlighted Mastercard’s commitment to supporting a reliable, inclusive digital economy. “By integrating international standards and advanced cybersecurity, this partnership helps consumers, banks, and businesses confidently engage in the global marketplace,” he said.
Ethswitch’s progress is reflected in the latest AfricaNenda Foundation report—the 2025 State of Inclusion of Instant Payment Systems in Africa. The report elevated Ethswitch from “Basic” to “Progressed” on the AfricaNenda Inclusivity Spectrum.
Launched in February 2024, Ethswitch’s Instant Payment System (IPS) is rapidly expanding and integrating with other payment platforms to enable cross-border transactions. Key collaborations include a merger with the UAE Central Bank’s Aani platform, covering Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and ongoing talks with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS).
The report notes Ethswitch’s use of ISO 20022-compliant APIs, facilitating seamless integration across payment participants.
