Africa’s cross-border payments problem
Monday 24th August, 2026
Businesses across Africa struggle with costly, complicated cross-border payments, limiting trade and economic growth across the continent.
This gives you a chance to talk about making international payments simpler, clearer and more affordable for people and businesses.
1 Source:
Why have we flagged this?
Africa’s payment infrastructure is improving to support cross-border trade, giving Wise an opportunity to share relevant data or expertise on cheaper international transfers.
Get reactive idea inspiration
Thinking...
These are starting points for inspiration, not finished ideas.
Newsjack
Create a guide to cheaper African money transfers
Publish a practical guide explaining fees, exchange rates, payment delays and recipient options across major African corridors.
Newsjack angle: Create the guide within days and offer it to consumer finance desks and African business reporters as a service piece.
Why: It turns a complex infrastructure issue into useful advice for readers who send money across the continent.
Expert comment
Argue that remittances are essential payment infrastructure
A Wise spokesperson can explain how expensive, unreliable cross-border payments affect families as well as businesses across Africa.
Expert comment angle: Offer the view to CNN, the Financial Times and consumer money journalists covering remittances and international payments.
Why: It broadens the story beyond trade and gives the infrastructure debate a clear human consequence.
Data idea
Measure the cost of sending money across African corridors
Show the average fees paid by Wise customers when sending money between African countries.
Data to investigate: Analyse your transfer data to calculate average fees by African payment corridor.
Why: It gives journalists a concrete consumer measure of the payment friction described in the story.