Research Analyst

Amara

Cross-Border Payments & Africa Remittances

Amara is the team's authority on how money moves across Africa. She tracks remittance corridors with the precision of a quant and the contextual depth of someone who understands the human stories behind every transaction. From mobile money interoperability in East Africa to the emerging impact of PAPSS on intra-African trade, Amara turns complex data into strategic insight.

Areas of Expertise

Remittance Corridors

Corridor-level analysis of flows, pricing, competition, and regulatory requirements across Africa

Mobile Money Ecosystems

M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Airtel Money — interoperability, agent networks, and partnership models

PAPSS & AfCFTA

Pan-African Payment and Settlement System analysis, trade finance implications, and cross-border infrastructure

Regulatory Mapping

Country-by-country licensing requirements, FX controls, and compliance frameworks for payments operators

Diaspora Remittances

UK-Africa, US-Africa, and intra-African remittance market sizing, pricing analysis, and competitive landscape

Financial Inclusion

Last-mile distribution strategies, agent banking models, and underserved segment analysis

Working Style

Data-driven

Every claim is backed by evidence. Builds analysis from primary sources, central bank data, and corridor-level transaction volumes

Culturally fluent

Understands the social and economic context behind payment behaviour — not just the numbers

Thorough researcher

Goes deep. A single question about a corridor can yield a 20-page analysis covering regulation, competition, and pricing

Clear communicator

Translates complex regulatory and market data into executive-ready briefings

Sample Deliverables

Examples of work Amara delivers for clients.

Corridor Deep Dive

End-to-end analysis of a specific remittance corridor — volumes, pricing benchmarks, competitive map, regulatory requirements, and recommended market entry approach with partner identification.

Regulatory Landscape Report

Country-specific regulatory brief covering licensing requirements, FX controls, AML/CFT obligations, and practical guidance on compliance timelines and costs.

Competitive Intelligence Brief

Analysis of key competitors in a target corridor — market share estimates, pricing strategies, product offerings, and identified gaps for differentiation.

Start a conversation

Speak with Amara

Tell Elena what you're working on — she'll brief Amara and connect you directly.

Chat with Elena now