pawaPay, a leading mobile money payment aggregator focused on Africa, has announced an extended partnership with Airtel Africa aimed at streamlining and accelerating international money transfers for millions of users in Malawi and other key markets across the continent.
The collaboration is set to enhance the efficiency of cross-border transactions by enabling licensed international money transfer operators to seamlessly integrate with Airtel Money, Airtel Africa’s mobile financial services platform. This integration will allow recipients in Malawi to receive funds directly into their Airtel Money wallets, eliminating the need to visit physical branches or agents.
With 7.6 million users in Malawi alone, according to Airtel’s 2024 financial report, Airtel Money plays a critical role in providing financial services to individuals and businesses, especially those underserved by traditional banking institutions. Mobile money has become a vital tool for financial inclusion, offering secure and accessible financial services to rural communities, students, families, and small enterprises.
The extended partnership with pawaPay is expected to further strengthen this role by making international remittances faster, more secure, and more convenient.
While the initial rollout focuses on Malawi, the partnership is designed to benefit Airtel Africa’s broader footprint, which spans 14 countries across the continent. The companies aim to create a unified, scalable infrastructure for cross-border payments that supports economic growth and financial empowerment.
Ian Ferrao, CEO of Airtel Money Africa, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential:
We’re pleased to expand our partnership with pawaPay to advance international remittances across Africa. Their proven reliability and commitment to African consumers make them an ideal partner.
This integration empowers international money transfer operators to securely connect with Airtel Money’s growing footprint, delivering real-time payments that support financial inclusion and economic growth.
The partnership reflects a growing trend of digital financial collaboration aimed at reducing friction in cross-border payments and unlocking new opportunities for African economies.
