Universal Pensions Africa
Book Project: Templatizing microPensions for Africa
In collaboration with the Africa Pension Supervisors’ Forum (APSA) and over 30 leading African pension policymakers, regulators, DFS ecosystem stakeholders, and researchers, we curated a landmark volume on inclusive pensions in Africa. This book — launched in late-2023 at the 4th Annual APSA Meetings in Uganda — aims to foster collaborative approaches and offer a ready-to-deploy digital micro-pension model for each excluded worker in Africa.
Rwanda
Feasibility Study for Digital Micro-Pensions
In 2016, we worked with Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) to assess the viability of launching a digital micro-pension scheme for Rwanda’s informal workers.
Design and Launch of Rwanda’s National Long-Term Savings Scheme
Between 2017 and 2018, pinBox and Mastercard partnered with AFR,MINECOFIN, and the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) to co-design and implement EjoHeza, Rwanda’s national digital Long-Term Savings Scheme (LTSS). Launched in 2019, EjoHeza became Africa’s first national ID-linked digital micro-pension and insurance program backed by government co-contributions. Today, it has 4+ million voluntary subscribers—half of whom are women—and over RwF 70 billion in assets under management.
Uganda
Assessment of Micro-Pension Frameworks
In 2017, we collaborated with FSD Uganda and the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) to evaluate Uganda’s regulatory environment and the sustainability of two pilot micro-pension schemes.
Strategy and Operating Model Design
In 2018, we worked with The World Bank and URBRA to develop a national strategy and operating framework to extend pension coverage to Uganda’s 11 million informal sector workers.
Blueprint for a Digital National LTSS
In 2021, we assisted URBRA in developing a comprehensive blueprint for a secure, low-cost voluntary LTSS scheme for non-salaried workers. The framework—developed in consultation with financial sector regulators, government ministries, DPI and DFS ecosystem stakeholders, pension funds, and outreach partners—laid the foundation for a digital, fiscally-incentivised micro-pension model for Uganda.
Regulatory Sandbox and Pilot Deployment
We are now working with APSA and URBRA to pilot-test Uganda’s national LTSS under a Regulatory Sandbox. Our pensionTech platform will be customized to help deliver the LTSS to self-employed women and youth.
Kenya
MBAO Scheme Assessment and Strategy Design
In 2018, we partnered with Kenya's National Treasury and the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) to evaluate the MBAO pension scheme. We supported the design of a scalable governance, product, and delivery framework for pension inclusion of Kenya’s 17 million informal workers.
Integrated Digital Micro-Pension and Insurance Platform
In 2020, we licensed our pensionTech platform to Zamara and Prudential Kenya to co-launch a digital retirement savings and insurance product for non-salaried workers. The initiative, supported by the Jua Kali Federation, leverages trusted outreach networks to drive adoption among MSMEs and gig workers.
Nigeria
Capacity Building with PENCOM and EFInA
In 2018, we conducted an extensive training workshop with EFInA (part of FSD Africa) and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) on digital micro-pension strategies. Our collaboration aimed at helping strengthen Nigeria’s roadmap for extending pension coverage to its 50 million informal workers.
