Many women in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earn their income from informal cross-border trade. Most of them still rely heavily on cash, a practice that is unsafe, difficult to track, and often slows down business operations.
This story explores how digital payment systems such as Mobile Money and banking apps could make trade safer, faster, and more profitable for women and other small-scale traders. While governments and financial institutions in Eastern Africa are increasingly promoting cashless systems, many women traders continue to face barriers that limit their participation in the digital economy. With growing access to mobile phones and fintech services, women traders now have new opportunities to trade more securely, an important step as regional economic policies increasingly encourage digital trade. Yet, many are still left behind.
Daily Struggles at the Rwanda-DRC Border
At the Petite Barrière border post in Rubavu, Hadija Uwimana, a fruit vendor, explains that using digital payment systems in their daily trade remains rare.
“During this summer season, business has not been going well. Those from the DRC who come to buy goods here bring cash because they cannot use our MTN MoMo system,” she says. “They must exchange their money into Rwandan francs, which causes delays. Sometimes we even lose customers while going to exchange money. Besides, handling cash in this crowded place makes us targets for thieves. Also, when customers don’t have small change, it becomes impossible to complete transactions. So, the lack of cashless options is a serious challenge for us.”
Furaha, a cabbage trader from Goma, DRC, shares a similar experience:
“We don’t use digital payments at all. We withdraw money from the bank and trade with cash. Keeping money in digital form is difficult because withdrawal fees are too high. These charges discourage us from using such systems.”
Murekatete Clémentine, another cross-border trader from Rwanda, notes that many small vendors lack both knowledge and resources to use cashless tools:
“Our business is small, and we deal with little money. Maybe if I were selling larger quantities, I would use mobile banking apps, but I don’t know how to use them. Lack of knowledge about these applications discourages us from going cashless,” she says.
Another trader, Nyirandabaruta Clémentine, who sells vegetables and fish between Rubavu and Goma, adds that poverty and lack of digital literacy are major obstacles: “Some of us don’t even own smartphones. No financial institution has come to train or support us. Sometimes we lose money because we carry it by hand or mismanage it. We wish we could be given phones and taught how to use digital platforms.”
Challenges from the DRC Side
From the Congolese side, traders acknowledge that insecurity in Eastern DRC has slowed down the adoption of cashless systems. However, many say they would welcome digital payments because they make transactions faster, safer, and more efficient. The growing use of M-Pesa and other mobile money platforms shows rising interest, but access, affordability, and network stability remain major challenges.
Challenges from the Rwanda Side
Despite Rwanda’s rapid progress in digital finance, women cross-border traders still face several obstacles in adopting cashless payments. Many traders lack smartphones or sufficient digital literacy to use mobile banking apps effectively. High transaction fees charged by telecommunication companies and mobile money services discourage small-scale traders from going cashless.
Additionally, some women vendors prefer cash due to habit, trust issues, or the nature of their low-margin businesses, where carrying small amounts of cash seems easier than using digital tools. Limited awareness campaigns and insufficient training for cross-border traders make the problem worse, leaving many women unable to fully benefit from Rwanda’s advanced digital ecosystem.
Efforts to Promote Women’s Empowerment and Digital Inclusion
In Rwanda, initiatives such as “EmpowerHer” have been launched to train and support women in cross-border trade. The program focuses on helping women access financial institutions, embrace digital payment systems, and connect their businesses to the formal economy.
Mugabowagahunde Maurice, Governor of the Northern Province, emphasizes that: “Many still rely on cash because some engage in informal or even illegal trade. They need to work with banks and microfinance institutions to grow and move with technology.”
However, high transaction costs remain a key obstacle. Teddy Kaberuka, an economic expert, points out that: “The cost of transferring money between users should continue to be reviewed so that cashless systems become accessible to everyone in Rwanda.”
The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) says it is working closely with telecom companies and other partners to make digital payments more affordable and user-friendly nationwide.
The Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) is actively fostering financial inclusion by implementing reforms to enhance digital payment adoption. These initiatives include licensing mobile money operators, promoting interoperability among payment systems, and establishing consumer protection frameworks for digital financial services.
Government and Private Sector Interventions
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), Rwanda supports Rwanda’s cashless agenda by promoting digital payment adoption across all businesses, especially among micro and small traders. Through the Connect Rwanda Initiative, the government has provided smartphones to cross-border traders—particularly women, persons with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds—to enhance their access to digital services.
During the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum in May 2025, Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry, stated: “Rwanda has long championed digital transformation as a driver of economic development. Our investments in digital infrastructure, e-commerce, and fintech solutions have empowered local enterprises to compete regionally and globally.”
Similarly, Hon. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, emphasized the importance of digital inclusion: “Integrating technologies in every sector will quicken our economic development as a country, and we believe these women will benefit from owning smartphones that can enhance their trading activities locally and expose them to larger markets in the region.”
The private sector is also contributing.
Mitwa Ng’ambi, CEO of MTN Rwanda, says: “Mobile money has matured over the last ten years in Rwanda, and this marks a pivotal milestone in our journey toward a cashless economy.”
Voices from the ground and Industry Support
Verena Musabyemariya, leader of a women cross-border traders’ cooperative, in Western Rwanda explains that many women are not yet using cashless programs due to the nature of their work. “At times, we carry products on our heads, which means going back at least three times a day. Profit margins are very low, and trade is the sole source of income for many. This doesn’t motivate many women to use digital payments because it can be costly.”
Mary V. Balikungeri, Founder and Director of Rwanda Women’s Network, emphasizes the importance of empowerment: “Our greatest strength has been our commitment to empower women for self-transformation. No matter how long the journey, or how difficult the challenges, our determination continues to focus on women’s empowerment, which influences positive transformation in communities.”
On the private sector side, MTN Rwanda actively promotes a cashless economy. Mitwa Ng’ambi, CEO, states: “Mobile money has matured over the last ten years in Rwanda, and this marks a pivotal milestone in our journey toward a cashless economy.”
Rwanda and DRC: Two Countries Moving Towards Digital Payments
Rwanda has made remarkable progress in digital finance. In 2024, digital payments reached 300% of GDP, and digital service usage rose to 73%, up from 30% four years earlier. The FinScope 2024 report shows that mobile money users increased from 4.3 million in 2020 to 6.9 million in 2024, and by 2025, 86% of Rwandans were using mobile money services, up from 77% in 2020.
In contrast, the Democratic Republic of Congo is still catching up. By 2024, Vodacom’s M-Pesa had 6.4 million active users, marking a 28% increase from the previous year. The telecom sector grew by almost 10%, driven by internet expansion and mobile money usage. It is estimated that about 23 million mobile money accounts now exist across the DRC, roughly one in four citizens, showing gradual but promising adoption of digital payments.
The Promise of Cashless Trade for Women
For many Rwandan and Congolese women engaged in cross-border trade, embracing digital and cashless payments offers immense potential. According to Leora Klapper of the World Bank, “digital payments give women entrepreneurs greater control over their income, helping them manage profits more securely and support their families.”
The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) also notes that electronic payments increase women’s economic participation and empowerment by linking them to formal financial services such as e-wallets and mobile money accounts. Similarly, experts from the Better Than Cash Alliance highlight that digital transactions help women save, plan for emergencies, and access credit opportunities.
Together, these benefits show that a cashless ecosystem can enhance safety, reduce losses, and expand market access for women traders along the Rwanda–DRC border. However, achieving this requires continued investment in digital literacy, affordable technology, and inclusive financial policies that truly empower women to thrive in the regional economy.
Mukanyandwi Marie Louise
