Introduction
The region’s track towards integration has been long: legal frameworks have been established, the Customs Union has been formed,[1] the Common Market Protocol has been put in place,[2] and the Monetary Union is the ultimate goal pursued for more than 20 years[3]. But the gap between policy and practice is wide: intra-EAC trade has rarely exceeded 15 per cent of total trade, and services trade accounts for less than 15 per cent of total GDP in most partner states.[4] This gap in implementation has led to a strategic vision to make Digital Public Infrastructure a concrete step toward making integration more tangible for citizens and businesses.
Understanding DPI in the EAC Context
Digital Public Infrastructure is the digital infrastructure used by modern services, connecting services for identity, payments, and data exchange, and enabling secure, interoperable, scalable service delivery[5]. DPI is now generally perceived as an accelerator for integration in the EAC, and not a desired result in itself. The EAC uses a unique DPI-plus strategy to build on the three traditional pillars (DPI) by adding connectivity, digital skills and governance as enablers.[6] This reflects the realities of the region: partner states have different levels of infrastructure, institutional capacity, and regulatory readiness, which affect what can be practically implemented.
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have relatively developed digital payment solutions and e-government systems, whereas Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Sudan are beginning to lay the foundations for digital payments and e-government[7]. The challenge is a structural one: on the one hand, a purely national strategy for DPI could lead to greater fragmentation, and on the other hand, a cross-border approach to DPI can provide an opportunity for progress even in the face of different starting points.
Progress and Practical Cases
There are several cross-border DPI projects that show the possibilities for concrete integration gains. The East African Payments System links the national real-time gross settlement systems, allowing for real-time interbank settlement between the partner states.[8] This decreases need for external correspondent banks and foreign currencies and boosts autonomous economic power of the region. There is still uneven take-up of the system with only four countries participating, and it is mostly used for wholesale bank-to-bank payments rather than retail transactions.[9]
Mobile money is one of the most advanced regional payment systems, with operators facilitating real-time wallet-to-wallet transfers between countries in critical corridors, such as Kenya-Tanzania and Kenya-Uganda.[10] An estimated 649 billion dollars were transacted in 2024 through approximately 459 million accounts, a significant contribution which has contributed to the enhancement of financial inclusion, especially among groups who are unbanked, female and rural[11].
The Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLI) provides an automated and interoperable approach to the cross-border trade processes by securely facilitating the exchange of trade, logistics and regulatory information between traders, logistics service providers and public authorities. This system is implemented along the main trade routes such as the Northern and Central Corridors, which results in decreased duplication and delays in customs clearance.[12] The One Network Area project has reduced cost of roaming and enhanced mobile communication within the region, with some partners like DRC and Somalia not yet participating.[13]
Persistent Challenges
However, major obstacles block the integration potential of DPI. A key challenge is regulatory fragmentation: although there has been a general convergence of legislation on digital signatures across partner states, there is no mutual recognition agreement which greatly limits their effectiveness in facilitating cross-border digital trade.[14] For instance, businesses and individuals must still sign physical contracts for goods purchased online, adding to costs and scalability limitations.[15]
Interoperability has not yet been achieved across payment systems due to differences in national financial regulations and standards. These key elements of the digital economy, such as intermediary liability, e-transaction protection, and the rights of consumers with regard to their data, are lacking in harmonisation and are regulated inconsistently. In addition, implementation is hindered by the existence of digital literacy problems and capacity gaps, as regulatory bodies may not have the expertise necessary to put policies for digital trade into practice.
Policy recommendations
An all-encompassing policy roadmap is needed for the developing East Africa Stack in EAC. First, cross-border DPI needs to be treated as a socio-technical system, which includes infrastructure, policy, skills and institutional capacity. Second, the EAC has to invest in regional connectivity and data infrastructure including fibre, satellite and regional data centres for equitable access. Third, an enabling policy framework is critical for the implementation of a regional policy on interoperability and open standards; a regional DPI Blueprint adherent to the African Union and AfCFTA policies; and strengthening of data protection and cybersecurity policies.
Last but not least, sustainability relies on financing in the longer term, skills building, monitoring systems and the involvement of civil society. The development and use of shared indicators to track impact and embed DPI safeguards is essential for sustaining trust and resilience over time.
Conclusion
For the integration of EAC to be tangible, it is not a matter of mere legal texts, but rather systems to facilitate seamless trade, mobility and governance. The dream of a connected digital marketplace is feasible but will require coordinated investment, regulatory harmonization and ongoing political will. The digital road to integration is open, and it’s one that must be walked together.
[1] Customs Union, Available at https://www.eacj.org/?page_id=595 last accessed on June 14th 2026
[2] Common Market Protocol available at https://www.eacj.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Common-Market-Protocol.pdf last accessed on June 14th 2026
[3] Durevall D, ‘East African Community: Pre-conditions for an Effective Monetary Union’ (2011)
[4] Hersi, Abdifatah Ahmed, et al. “Economic Integration and Trade Performance: Assessing the Effectiveness of the East African Community as a Trade Bloc.” Cogent Economics & Finance, vol. 13, no. 1, Dec. 2025, p. 2516712. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2025.2516712.
[5] Zuckerman E, ‘What is Digital Public Infrastructure’ (2020) The Center for Journalism and Liberty 1
[6] Melody M, Et al,” Digital Public Infrastructure In The East Africa Community” Published on April 22nd 2026, https://ecdpm.org/work/digital-public-infrastructure-east-african-community last accessed o June 10th 2026
[7] Ennatu, D,et Al, “Interoperability of digital payment systems: Lessons from the East African Community”,Ecdm, Published October 2023, available at https://ecdpm.org/application/files/1616/9657/9822/Interoperability-digital-payment-systems-Lessons-from-East-African-Community-ECDPM-Discussion-Paper-357-2023.pdf Last Accessed on June 11th 2026,
[8] EAC Crossborder Payment system Masterplan, Available at https://cenfri.org/wp-content/uploads/EAC-PAYMENT-SYSTEMS-MASTERPLAN-2.pdf Last Accessed in June 15t 2026
[9] Ngulla G, ‘The Doctrine of State Sovereignty and its Implications for the Harmonisation of Banking Regulation and Supervisory Frameworks under the East African Community Common Market Protocol’ (2025) 2 African Quarterly Social Science Review 190
[10] Shrier D, Canale G and Pentland A, ‘Mobile Money and Payments: Technology Trends’ (2016) Massachusetts Institute of Technology 27
[11] Ricci, Luca A., et al. “Digital Payment Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Departmental Papers, vol. 2025, no. 004, June 2025. www.elibrary.imf.org, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400232220.087.A001.
[12] Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP) – TradeMark Africa. https://trademarkafrica.com/projects/trade-logistics-information-pipeline-tlip/ . Accessed 16 June 2026.
[13] “Enhancing Connectivity in East Africa: The EAC One Network Area Initiative (GIZ).” EAC-GIZ, https://www.eacgermany.org/news/undefined/news/enhancing-connectivity-in-east-africa-the-eac-one-network-area-initiative-giz. Accessed 16 June 2026.
[14] Ahmed U, ‘The Importance of Cross-Border Regulatory Cooperation in an Era of Digital Trade’ (2019) 18 World Trade Review S99
[15] Kenney M and Curry J, Beyond Transaction Costs: E-Commerce and the Power of the Internet Dataspace (Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy (BRIE), E-conomy Project 2000)
