The Interledger Foundation has awarded a grant to United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) in Kenya to promote open-payment technology, expanding its "NextGen Higher Education Grant Program." This initiative aims to foster a workforce knowledgeable in open-source payment systems like the Interledger Protocol to enhance financial inclusion.

• USIU-Africa received up to $50,000 for its project, "Design Your Future Integrated Innovation Pipeline Programme: The Future of Open Payment Technologies for Financial Inclusion & Social Impact," focusing on Kenya's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• Chris Lawrence, Chief Programmes Officer at the Interledger Foundation, stated the goal is to "nurture the next generation of fintech entrepreneurs, developers, and policymakers."
• MSMEs in Kenya comprise over 90% of all businesses, contribute over 33% of the country’s GDP and employ more than 78% of its workforce.