Bank of Namibia launches National Payment System Vision 2030 built on five pillars and instant payment expansion

The Bank of Namibia, working with the Payments Association of Namibia and the wider payments industry, has launched the National Payment System Vision and Strategy 2026–2030. The strategy sets the direction for Namibia’s payments system as a core part of its digital economy, with a focus on making payments more inclusive, secure, interoperable and able to support innovation. The framework is built around five pillars: user-centricity, trust and resilience, digital enablement, strategic foresight and innovation, and knowledge communities. These are intended to embed human-centred design in payment systems, strengthen cybersecurity and fraud prevention, support interoperable and instant digital payments, prepare policy for emerging technologies, and build industry collaboration and skills. The new vision builds on work under the previous strategy, including regulatory reforms, wider digital payment services, stronger interoperability, adoption of ISO 20022, and the introduction of Open Banking and NAMQR Code standards, which the Bank said helped drive growth in electronic funds transfers, card payments and e-money. The update also links the payments strategy to government work on digital public infrastructure. Pilot programmes are already under way to move selected government-to-person payments, including social transfers, onto Instant Payments Namibia, alongside digital identification and safe data exchange platforms. The Minister of Finance said delivery will depend on coordinated implementation and accountability across regulators, financial institutions, fintechs and other private-sector participants.