On the sidelines of the 4th edition of Mali’s digital week, Mah Bintou Coulibaly spoke with Financial Afrik. The director of Wave Mobile Money Mali reflects on the rapid rise of the little blue penguin and the assessment of Wave’s participation in the digital week.
Why is Wave supporting the Digital Week?
Present in Mali since 2021, Wave affirms its desire to support digital development. After our participation in the third edition, it was obvious for us to take part in this 4th edition, which has become a key event at the regional level.
The Digital Week provides a platform for exchange between entrepreneurs, decision-makers, regulators, and innovators. Wave Mali’s objective is to gather user expectations, propose tailored solutions, and share its experience gained in the 11 countries where the company operates.
With over 25 million monthly active users and more than 150,000 service users in Mali, Wave asserts that it relies on a field-centered approach. At Wave, decisions come from the field and not from offices.
Beyond financial services, what contribution do you wish to make to the development of the digital ecosystem?
In addition to its institutional presence at the Digital Week, Wave Mali set up an educational stand aimed at informing and assisting visitors. The on-site teams offered demonstrations, facilitated account openings, and shared practical advice.
We have been a partner of the Ministry of Communication, Digital Economy, and Modernization of Administration since the 3rd edition, and Wave Mali positions itself as a committed player in Mali’s digital transformation. The company also highlights its socio-economic impact. Through its distribution network, it contributes to job creation and the development of income-generating activities, especially for young people. Each Wave service point can become a source of employment and create value chains.
Is Wave Mobile Money accessible throughout the entire territory today?
Wave claims to have a presence across the entire Malian territory, including in hard-to-reach areas. Its services allow users to send and receive money, pay bills, receive salaries, or save through features like the vault.
Through regional and international partnerships, customers can also make transactions beyond borders. The company also works with several organizations to facilitate payments and financial management.
Between the 3rd and 4th editions of the Digital Week, Wave Mali notes a significant evolution in the market. There is still untapped potential in the field, and the needs of Malians are real and constantly growing. Wave Mali has gotten closer to the population by strengthening its visibility and capacity to meet expectations across the entire territory.
What are the major challenges to fully succeed in digital transformation?
Despite advancements, the main challenge remains the trust of the population in digital financial services. Convincing some people, especially in rural areas, to keep their money on a phone rather than physically remains a significant challenge.
To achieve this, Wave focuses on awareness, education, and proximity to users. Simplicity, transparency, and accessibility of services are essential pillars to promote adoption. Through its participation in the Digital Week, Wave Mali confirms its ambition to play a key role in financial inclusion and the country’s digital transformation.
Hadjarata C.
