Dr. Kombe Kaponda is the current chairperson for the Central Bank of Zambia (BoZ) FinTech working group, leading research on the effects of financial technologies and the feasibility of CBDC in developing economies. He is a certified Digital Finance Practitioner (CDFP), and a very active contributor to the global fintech and digital innovations agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CoP), a CBDC technology CoP in the Digital Advisory Unit focusing on R&D and research about CBDC technology for mutual global learning. He is also a founding trustee of the Association for Digital Finance Practitioners (ADFP) in Zambia and the Global Alliance of Digital Finance Associations. He is currently participating in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Architecture Interoperability committee, Taxonomy & CBDC, Digital Currency Ecosystem Global Initiative working group. Kombe is a published author on financial technologies developments in SSA and has facilitated fintech and cyber security training workshops and seminars.

Bank of Zambia is the central bank of Zambia.

The opportunities of CBDC, Emerging Technologies, and AI in Developing Economies - Case of Zambia

The presentation explores how CBDC, emerging technologies, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) present transformative opportunities for developing economies, with a focus on Zambia. It highlights how a well-designed CBDC can promote financial inclusion by extending secure, low-cost digital payment systems to unbanked and underserved populations. It outlines how Financial Technologies (Fintechs) are using emerging technologies like blockchain, mobile platforms, and digital identity systems to interoperate and connect to the National Financial Switch (NFS), eliminating friction, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing transparency. Furthermore, it examines the role of AI in driving data-driven policy decisions, enhancing regulatory supervision (SupTech), and enabling innovative financial products tailored to local needs. The presentation emphasizes potential benefits for Zambia, such as strengthening monetary policy effectiveness, fostering fintech innovation, supporting cross-border payments within the SADC region, and boosting digital literacy. It concludes by underlining the need for strong governance frameworks, robust cybersecurity, public trust, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to maximize these opportunities while managing associated risks.