Leadership transitions often bring an opportunity to refocus the broader mission behind an organization’s work.
As the new CEO of Mojaloop, Jean Bosco Iyacu steps into the role at a time when digital financial systems continue to expand their reach around the world. In this conversation, he shares his views on the future of inclusive payment ecosystems, the challenges ahead, and the priorities shaping Mojaloop’s next chapter. We spoke with him about the ideas, challenges and goals that will help define the road ahead for the Mojaloop Foundation.
Connect with Jean Bosco Iyacu on LinkedIn >
Advancing Inclusion Through Instant and Interoperable Digital Payments: A New Chapter with Mojaloop
My professional journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to expanding access — particularly for low-income communities across Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the years, I’ve worked at the intersection of banking, development finance, and digital public infrastructure, driven by one clear goal: enabling people to access the essential goods and services they need to thrive.
For more than a decade, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) — creating new income opportunities and supporting employment for thousands of young people.
That journey has taught me an important lesson: development work is rarely linear. It requires adaptability, collaboration, and a deep understanding of local realities. Over time, I’ve come to see market facilitation not just as a science, but as an art — one that blends technical expertise with human insight.
This perspective was further strengthened through my experience with Mojaloop Foundation, particularly during its first deployment in Rwanda through eKash by RSwitch. Witnessing firsthand how open-source digital payment infrastructure can drive large-scale inclusion — especially for underserved and excluded communities — was both inspiring and transformative.
A Pivotal Moment
I’m joining Mojaloop Foundation at a defining moment. Demand for our unique value proposition is growing, alongside a strong and expanding global community that places confidence in our proven, open-source technology. At the same time, the development aid landscape is undergoing significant change.
Together, these dynamics create both urgency and opportunity.
Our vision for the future is clear: to empower countries and organizations to build inclusive, instant, and interoperable payment systems that truly serve people’s everyday needs. These systems go beyond transactions — they enable access, strengthen resilience, and create pathways for economic participation.
Ultimately, we aspire to a world where payment systems are seamlessly interconnected, inclusive by design, and work for everyone — especially those who have historically been left behind.
From Momentum to Impact
As we move into this next phase, our priority is to turn opportunity into action. We are focused on converting a strong pipeline of countries and partners into tangible, high-impact deployments — accelerating delivery so that our work translates into real benefits for communities and businesses.
At the same time, we are building for scale. Strengthening our operational and financial sustainability is key to ensuring that our impact is not only wide-reaching but also enduring. By deepening strategic partnerships and leveraging our unique value proposition, we are positioning Mojaloop Foundation to move faster, go further, and deliver meaningful change at scale.
This is about turning momentum into measurable progress — bringing inclusive payment systems to life where they are needed most.
What Excites Me Most
What excites me most about the journey ahead is seeing ambition translate into impact — where more people can fully benefit from access to instant, appropriate digital payment solutions.
I’m particularly energized by the potential for innovation. Through our open API architecture, we are enabling innovators to build client-centric solutions on top of our digital rails — solutions designed to meet the real needs of underserved communities. As this ecosystem grows, it will demonstrate the true power of open, inclusive infrastructure.
The Power of Community
At the heart of everything we do is our community of adopters and System Integrators. They are the backbone of our delivery model — turning Mojaloop from a technology into real, inclusive solutions across diverse markets.
As we look ahead, we are committed to deepening this engagement — fostering collaboration, enabling knowledge sharing, and driving continuous innovation. We want to empower our partners to build and scale solutions that respond to local needs, while also challenging us to keep improving.
Our sustainability is closely tied to the success of this community. That’s why we are focused on building simple, transparent, and mutually beneficial partnerships that enable everyone to grow, succeed, and deliver lasting impact together.
Looking Ahead
What continues to motivate me is a simple but powerful idea: the possibility of building a fairer, more inclusive society. This has been a constant throughout my career — and it remains at the core of Mojaloop Foundation’s mission.
The journey ahead is ambitious, but the progress so far shows that meaningful change is already within reach. By working together — through innovation, partnership, and a shared commitment to inclusion — we can build systems that truly work for everyone.
