Digital Frontiers

30/10/2026

Our team members Andile Bidi and Suhana Bisnath recently attended the 17th Durban FilmMart alongside the eight finalist studios of the Animation Studio Accelerator Programme. Supported by the Government of Japan, the programme is delivered by Digital Frontiers in partnership with the Triggerfish Foundation on behalf of the UNDP Timbuktoo Creatives Hub in Cape Town.

The event provided an important opportunity for the studios to showcase their work, connect with filmmakers and industry stakeholders, and explore potential collaborations with animation production partners. Discussions also gave the studios valuable insight into the practical challenges of growing their businesses and pursuing international opportunities.

These industry connections and conversations mark an important step in the studios’ journey, helping them build relationships and explore new possibilities for their work.

We’re excited to see how the studios build on this experience.

28/10/2026

In the October edition of Further the Frontiers, we explore the people, ideas and initiatives shaping the future of digital finance.

Our CEO, Todd Malone, visited Namibia to discuss how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can advance financial inclusion. We also celebrate our alumni, Dr Kombe Kaponda and Nataša Goronja, who recently spoke and presented at key events.

This month’s Community Corner features an article by Maxime Lokossi, Digital Frontiers Institute alum and course technical expert, on how digital identity and authentication technologies can strengthen MSME credit systems in the UEMOA region. You can also watch our 2026 Financial Inclusion Week session on how risk-based supervision can support inclusive digital financial services.

We’re expanding the ways our community can stay connected. Digital Frontiers Institute is now on WhatsApp, providing updates, news and learning opportunities.

Read the October edition of Further the Frontiers to catch up on the latest insights, community achievements and updates from Digital Frontiers. Read the newsletter here: https://ow.ly/TwtM5101HY8

26/10/2026

How can payment systems expand access while protecting the people who use them?

As instant payment systems grow across Africa, consumer protection plays an important role in building trust and supporting financial inclusion.

In this article, Consumer Protection for Instant and Inclusive Payment System (IIPS) in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, Digital Frontiers Institute alum Girum Fekadu Diriba explores the regulatory and operational considerations for making instant payment systems more inclusive and secure.

The article highlights three areas that matter for consumer protection.
- Effective complaint and dispute resolution so consumers have clear processes for resolving problems and seeking redress.
- Data privacy and transparency to protect consumers and ensure they understand how financial services operate.
- Consistent regulation to help payment service providers manage consumer protection requirements across markets.

These considerations are important for building payment systems that people can trust and use with confidence, particularly as digital financial services reach more underserved communities.

Read the full article:
https://digitalfrontiersinstitute.org/consumer-protection-for-instant-and-inclusive-payment-system-iips-in-africa-challenges-and-opportunities/

Interested in strengthening your understanding of consumer protection in digital financial services?

The Consumer Protection course from Digital Frontiers Institute starts on 5 November 2026. Enrolment closes on 1 November 2026.

Find the course brochure in the comments.

26/10/2026

We invite our Digital Frontiers community to join us in remembering and celebrating the life of our beloved colleague and friend, Cedric Moubitang.

Cedric touched the lives of so many people through his kindness, warmth and dedication to his work. We welcome all participants, alumni, technical experts, colleagues and everyone who knew Cedric to join us for an online memorial as we come together to honour his life, share in his memory and reflect on the difference he made to those around him.

Date: 3 November 2026
Time: 10:30–11:00 UTC | 12:30–13:00 SAST | 13:30–14:00 EAT
Online: Please register via Zoom to attend
https://digitalfrontiers-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rtmEDRsyTUuQrInWBxnFaA

We hope you will join us as we remember Cedric and the lasting impact he had on our community.

Our thoughts remain with Cedric’s family, friends and colleagues. We wish them comfort, peace and strength during this difficult time.

22/10/2026

Eight studios have been selected for the Animation Studio Accelerator Programme, supported by the Government of Japan (日本国政府), delivered by Digital Frontiers in partnership with the Triggerfish Foundation, and on behalf of the UNDP timbuktoo Africa Creatives Hub in Cape Town.

Read how the programme aims to help studios strengthen their business models, attract investment and reach international markets in Animation Magazine.

Read the article: https://www.animationmagazine.net/2026/10/eight-south-african-animation-studios-selected-for-undp-accelerator/

The UNDP animation accelerator is designed to help studios in South Africa scale up to compete on the global market.

20/10/2026

How can data analytics strengthen mobile money services and support financial inclusion?

As digital financial services expand, data plays an important role in helping providers understand customer needs, manage risk and improve their services.

In this article, The Role of Data Analytics in Digital Money: Transforming Financial Inclusion and the Future of Finance, Digital Frontiers Institute alum Ibrahim Chapeyama explores how data analytics and emerging technologies can shape the future of digital finance.

The article highlights three important areas:

Risk management by using data to improve credit risk assessment and support informed lending decisions.
Customer-focused services by analysing patterns and customer needs to inform the development of relevant financial products.
Trust and security by addressing challenges such as cyber threats, data protection and regulatory compliance.
For mobile money providers, these considerations are important to building services that meet customer needs while supporting sustainable operations.

Read the full article:
https://ow.ly/tRX650ZZhwx

Interested in strengthening your understanding of the operational side of mobile money?

The Mobile Money Operations course from Digital Frontiers Institute starts on 29 October 2026. Enrolment closes on 25 October 2026.

Find the course brochure in the comments.

19/10/2026

Our final studios have been selected!

We are pleased to announce the eight studios selected for the Animation Studio Accelerator Programme, supported by the Government of Japan, delivered by Digital Frontiers in
partnership with the Triggerfish Foundation, and on behalf of the UNDP timbuktoo Creatives Hub in Cape Town.

Designed specifically for growth-stage, founder-led African animation studios, this eight-month, market-facing accelerator will help the finalists strengthen their position as deal-ready production partners. Through studio diagnostics, growth planning, production positioning, market validation, industry matchmaking and financing pathways, they will gain the strategic support, connections and market access needed to pursue sustainable growth.

The studios will now take part in a combination of virtual learning, mentor matching and tailored mentorship, masterclasses, market-facing industry events and high-value, in-person validation opportunities at the Creatives Hub.

Congratulations to our eight finalists. We’re excited to see what you build, the partnerships you forge and where this journey takes you.

UNDP South Africa, UNDP Africa, Timbuktoo, Digital Frontiers, Triggerfish Foundation Bugbox Animation, Fancy Horse Studios, Goon Valley, Lucan, Motif Studios, , Sparks Flew Development Studio, Studio Bo

19/10/2026

Building digital agriculture solutions requires more than technology.

How can digital solutions support farmers while strengthening the agricultural value chains they depend on?

In her article, The Disruption Delusion: Three Shifts for Building a Sustainable Digital Agriculture, Digital Frontiers Institute alum Raqibatu Zukaneni explores three lessons for developing more inclusive and sustainable digital agriculture solutions.
1. Digitise ecosystems, rather than disrupt them.
2. Combine technology with human support.
3. Create value beyond digital payments.

These lessons highlight the importance of understanding agricultural value chains and the people who depend on them when designing digital solutions.

Read the full article to explore the three shifts and what they mean for the future of digital agriculture: https://ow.ly/1ug250ZYQsj

Interested in developing your knowledge of digital agriculture and its role in financial inclusion?

The Digitising Agriculture course starts on 29 October.
Enrolment closes on 25 October.

Find the course brochure in the comments.

19/10/2026

What does successful programme delivery actually look like?

For Digital Frontiers, success is about what happens when learning moves into practice. That means looking at whether people apply new knowledge and skills, whether organisations become stronger and whether those changes contribute to wider development outcomes.

In our recent Insight, Andile Bidi, Megan Carver and Blaze Haselau explore how we approach programme delivery, from needs analysis and stakeholder consultation through to Communities of Practice, ongoing monitoring and measuring impact.

The goal is simple but important. Design learning around the change we want to see, then measure whether that change happens across people, institutions and systems.

Read the full article to learn more about what programme delivery looks like in practice at Digital Frontiers: https://ow.ly/JWiM50ZYoFW

13/10/2026

What’s been happening behind the scenes at Digital Frontiers?

In our latest update, Camilla Ferguson, Senior Manager at Digital Frontiers, shares a few of the ways we’re continuing to improve our learning experiences and create more opportunities for professionals to learn from one another.

From bringing supervisors from six central banks and regulatory authorities across Africa and Pakistan together for our first Risk-Based Supervisory Global Exchange, to being selected from nearly 200 submissions for an on-demand session at Accion’s Financial Inclusion Week 2026, it’s been a busy few months.

We’ve also made it easier for participants to stay connected with our Learning Facilitation Team, with WhatsApp groups now available across our courses for announcements, updates and support throughout their learning journeys.

Watch the video for the full update and stay tuned for more from Digital Frontiers.

For regular updates, subscribe to our Further the Frontiers monthly newsletter: https://ow.ly/zw3L50ZX8Y4