• REGIDESO and Singapore-based EFGH signed a service framework agreement to digitalize revenue collection nationwide.
• The partnership will develop secure digital payment channels to improve transparency and boost investor confidence.
• EFGH is expanding its African footprint, following a recent joint venture in Ghana to build a national “Finternet” system.

REGIDESO and Embed Financial Group Holdings (EFGH) are strengthening their presence in Africa as the companies pursue new growth opportunities. Their latest project in the Democratic Republic of Congo aims to accelerate the digital transformation of the state-owned water distributor.

EFGH, a Singapore-based fintech group, announced on Thursday, 20 November, that it signed a service framework agreement with the Water Distribution Authority (REGIDESO SA). The partnership aims to modernize revenue collection from households and businesses and enhance the utility’s operational performance.

According to the announcement, both parties will develop secure digital payment channels, new financial tools and protection mechanisms to simplify, accelerate and broaden access to payments for the public. The initiative aims to improve payment traceability, strengthen transparency, and boost investor confidence, ultimately enabling REGIDESO to raise capital for modernization.

REGIDESO already offers digital payment solutions to subscribers. The company says customers can pay water bills through its mobile application, available on the App Store and Google Play, or via its official website. These services currently cover 11 of the DRC’s 26 provinces.

To reach subscribers without internet access, REGIDESO also provides a USSD code, allowing users to make payments from any mobile phone. This multichannel approach seeks to address gaps in digital penetration and ensure wider accessibility.

EFGH describes itself as a specialist in digital payments, financial platforms and digital ecosystem architecture. The company says it operates in several African markets, including Ghana.

On 29 October, EFGH announced a joint venture with Ghana’s District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to build a national “Finternet”, a digital financial infrastructure designed to connect governments, citizens and businesses. EFGH says the Finternet will link payments, credit and insurance just as the internet connects information, helping districts manage public funds more efficiently while generating new revenue streams for national development.

This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke (Bankable)

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum