The Bank of Botswana has invited applications from eligible innovators, including both licensed and unlicensed entities, to enter its Regulatory Sandbox under the theme “Unlocking an Inclusive Digital Economy through Digital Banks, Inclusive Payments, and Interoperability Solutions”. The sandbox is positioned as a controlled framework for live, real-world testing of novel financial products, services and business models under the Bank’s regulatory supervision, with applicants expected to be market-ready and able to host and operate their own solutions while engaging with customers. The Bank will consider solutions in three areas: inclusive payment solutions that improve access, affordability and participation for underserved communities and small, medium and micro enterprises; digital banks that provide secure, scalable channels for new financial services and complement traditional branch infrastructure; and interoperability solutions that enable connectivity and open sharing of data across payment platforms, products and instruments. Participants are expected to comply with the Regulatory Sandbox Guidelines and can gain an opportunity to test live, engage directly with the regulator in a way that may inform regulatory change, strengthen credibility for market entry, and collaborate with industry stakeholders. Applications open from 04 March 2026 at 1000 hours and close on 31 March 2026 at 2359 hours, with late submissions not considered. Applications must be submitted online through the Bank of Botswana Fintech Portal, and submissions that fail due to incorrect file sizes or formats will not be considered; admission is not guaranteed and applications will be assessed against the Bank’s sandbox framework and guidelines.

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