1. Program Overview

The Fintech and Digital Finance Program explores how financial technology is transforming the delivery, accessibility, and management of financial services. From mobile money and digital wallets to blockchain, robo-advisors, and decentralized finance (DeFi), fintech innovations are reshaping the global financial ecosystem and enabling financial inclusion, efficiency, and competitiveness.

This program is designed to give professionals a strong grounding in the structure, tools, regulatory landscape, and strategic opportunities within digital finance. It also addresses emerging risks such as cybersecurity, compliance, and consumer protection. Practical tools, case studies, and use cases are used to ensure applicability across sectors and institutions.

2. Training Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fintech landscape and its major categories
• Evaluate the business models and value propositions of digital finance
• Apply digital solutions to payments, lending, savings, and investment
• Assess risks and compliance issues in digital financial services
• Explore trends in blockchain, AI, open banking, and DeFi
• Develop strategies for digital transformation in financial services
• Promote responsible innovation and digital financial inclusion

3. Target Trainees

• Bankers and Microfinance Officers
• SACCO and Cooperative Managers
• Financial Planners and Investment Advisors
• IT, Risk, and Compliance Officers in Financial Institutions
• Mobile Network and Payment Service Providers
• Entrepreneurs and Fintech Startups
• Government and Regulatory Officers
• Financial Educators and Inclusion Advocates

4. Main Discussion Items / Modules

• Module 1: Introduction to Fintech and Digital Finance
• Evolution and scope of fintech
• Key drivers: mobile technology, data, regulation, demographics
• Ecosystem players and market disruptors
• Module 2: Digital Financial Services
• Digital payments, wallets, and peer-to-peer transfers
• Online lending, crowdfunding, and neobanks
• Digital insurance (insurtech) and savings tools
• Robo-advisory and algorithmic investing
• Module 3: Blockchain and Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
• Basics of blockchain and distributed ledger technology
• Smart contracts and tokenization
• Use cases in payments, identity, lending, and clearance
• Risks, volatility, and regulatory perspectives
• Module 4: Digital Financial Inclusion
• Fintech for the unbanked and underserved
• Gender, youth, and rural inclusion through mobile finance
• Role of agent networks and USSD platforms
• Public-private partnerships and donor initiatives
• Module 5: Regulation, Risk, and Consumer Protection
• Data privacy and cybersecurity in fintech
• Regulatory frameworks and sandbox environments
• AML/CFT considerations in digital finance
• Consumer protection, transparency, and ethics
• Module 6: Business Models and Strategy
• Monetization models in fintech
• Partnerships between banks and fintechs
• Digital transformation roadmaps
• KPIs and performance measurement in digital finance

5. Training Methodology

• Facilitator-led interactive lectures
• Case studies from Kenya and international markets
• Demos of fintech apps and platforms
• Group work and scenario analysis
• Guest speakers from fintech startups and regulators
• Real-time feedback and knowledge sharing

6. Tasks

• Map out a fintech value chain for a SACCO or bank
• Evaluate 3 fintech apps and report on usability and risk
• Draft a risk compliance checklist for a mobile lending product
• Design a digital financial inclusion strategy for a rural area
• Compare digital wallet offerings and identify gaps in services
• Develop a regulatory compliance summary for a fintech startup