Call for Papers 2026

The Pursuit of an Integrated Financial System: Harnessing Payments to Drive Sector-Wide Impact and Inclusion.

The Rwanda Bankers’ Association (RBA) invites researchers, academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and fintech innovators to submit papers for the 2026 Annual Banking Research Conference under the theme: “The Pursuit of an Integrated Financial System: Harnessing Payments to Drive Sector-Wide Impact and Inclusion.”

Background

Rwanda’s financial sector has made significant progress in digitalization, interoperability, and financial inclusion through innovations in payments, mobile money, fintech, and supportive regulatory reforms. Payments infrastructure – once considered a supporting function – has become a strategic pillar shaping credit access, SME financing, data-driven innovation, and regulatory oversight.

As initiatives such as interoperable payment platforms, real-time payments, mobile money–bank integration, and cross-border payment systems continue to expand, there is a growing need to understand how payments can be leveraged as system-wide infrastructure to deepen integration across banks, fintechs, MFIs, insurers, and regional markets.

The 2026 RBA Annual Banking Research Conference seeks to advance research that moves beyond isolated innovations to examine payments as a catalyst for financial sector transformation.

Key Topics of Interest

Submissions are encouraged on (but not limited to) the following themes:

Digital Payments & Interoperability

  • National payment switches and interoperable platforms
  • Real-time and instant payment systems
  • Digital public infrastructure and open finance
  • Economics and efficiency of payment rails

Payments, Innovation & Financial Sector Competitiveness

  • Fintech–bank collaboration models
  • Merchant payments, cards, and QR ecosystems
  • Cybersecurity, fraud management, and operational resilience
  • RegTech and SupTech for payment system oversight

Inclusion Through Payments

  • Payments as an entry point to formal financial services
  • Payment-enabled credit scoring and SME financing
  • Gender, youth, and rural financial inclusion
  • Agent networks and last-mile connectivity

Cross-Border Payments & Regional Integration

  • PAPSS and regional payment interoperability
  • Remittances, trade payments, and diaspora finance
  • Payments supporting regional trade and investment

Data, Governance & Ecosystem Connectivity

  • Payment data for credit markets and supervision
  • Data-sharing frameworks and consumer protection
  • Governance models for integrated financial systems

The conference places strong emphasis on high-quality research with clear policy relevance, market applicability, and practical insights.

Honorarium and Publication
  • An honorarium will be paid for each paper selected for presentation at the conference.
  • All accepted papers will be peer-reviewed and published in the RBA Working Paper Series – Volume III.

Submission Requirements

Submissions may be:

  • A full paper (maximum 8,000 words), or
  • A concept paper (maximum 2,500 words).
  • The submissions must be strongly aligned with the conference theme and key thematic areas.

Each submission must include:

  • A 300-word abstract, and
  • A brief author(s) biography(s) (maximum one page), including professional background and research experience.
// Key dates
  • 20th February 2026 Deadline to submit Abstract/Concept Paper
  • 06th March 2026 Selection of papers and notification of authors
  • 10th April 2026
    In the case of concept papers, full papers completed by the authors and submitted to Rwanda Bankers’ Association Research Centre
  • May 2026
    Technical Review Workshop
  • June 25th, 2026
    RBA Annual Research Conference
// Download the Concept note

// Submission Form

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

PAPER SUBMISSION

Presenting Author
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.
If invited to give an oral presentation, I would accept
Checkboxes

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ANALYSIS THROUGH BANK SIMULATION (B@NKSIM)

PROPOSED DURATION: • 5 DAYS

Learning objectives:

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the main methods used by external observers to analyse financial institutions.
  • Explain the major decisions currently taken in the banking sector and their implications.
  • Analyse how different areas of the banking business interact to influence overall business and financial performance.
  • Interpret the overall strategy of their financial institution and its key drivers.
  • Apply knowledge from the simulation game to connect and synthesise the topics covered during the four previous modules.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND FINTECH

PROPOSED DURATION: • 4 DAYS

Learning objectives:

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  • Assess the main transformation drivers impacting their institution and translate them into clear priorities.
  • Map a priority customer journey and identify concrete opportunities to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
  • Compare key digital banking business models (platforms, partnerships, BaaS, embedded finance) and select relevant options for their context.
  • Select and justify high-value digital/AI/data/cloud use cases, including value, feasibility, and key risks.
  • Define a pragmatic transformation roadmap (quick wins + mid-term initiatives) with governance, KPIs and change/adoption actions.
  • Present a concise “transformation blueprint” to stakeholders (structure, rationale, and expected outcomes).

LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE MANAGEMENT: Leading as a Manager Coach

PROPOSED DURATION: • 4 DAYS

Learning objectives:

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  • Reflect on their personal leadership style and managerial role.
  • Adopt a coaching mindset to empower and develop their team members.
  • Manage performance effectively while maintaining motivation and engagement.
  • Identify and develop future talents within their organization.
  • Balance team care with self-care for sustainable leadership.

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND ESG

PROPOSED DURATION: • 2 DAYS

Learning objectives:

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  • Map ESG priorities to their bank’s strategic objectives and identify 2–3 concrete areas for integration (e.g., lending policies, product design, client segmentation). 
  • Design governance arrangements by defining clear roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes for ESG within their organization. 
  • Embed ESG factors into existing risk management frameworks, including credit, market, and operational risk assessment practices. 
  • Interpret and apply relevant ESG regulations and reporting standards to their bank’s context, identifying immediate compliance gaps and actions. 
  • Develop a practical, step-by-step action plan to implement ESG initiatives in their own bank, including quick wins and longer-term priorities.

STRATEGY, GOVERNANCE, & INTERNAL CONTROL

PROPOSED DURATION: • 5 DAYS

Learning objectives:

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  • Define and monitor long-term strategies in alignment with the Mission, Values, and Risk Appetite set by the Board of Directors.
  • Translate the fundamental principles of corporate governance into robust and effective organisational practices.
  • Apply the Fit and Proper requirements at both Non-Executive and Executive levels.
  • Identify and explain the expected contributions of Commercial, Support, and Control functions within a sound risk management framework.
  • Describe the positioning, purpose, and functioning of the Risk Management, Compliance, and Internal Audit functions.
  • Distinguish between the main financial and non-financial risk categories to which a financial institution is exposed and outline the associated risk management tactics and mitigating measures.
  • Explain the risk management cycle and analyse the interrelationships across risk categories, including the cause-and-effect domino dynamics between them.