West Africa’s central bank wants the first fintechs for its innovation lab: applications close November 30
For the first time, the central bank of eight West African countries is inviting banks, financial institutions and fintechs to test their products under its supervision. Who can apply, how, and what is still unclear.
Why it mattersIf you run a fintech or a bank in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), this is the first official route to trying out a new product without waiting for a full licence. Crypto-assets are excluded.
- On October 14, 2026 the BCEAO published its call for applications for the first cohort of its Financial Innovation Laboratory (LIF-BCEAO).
- Licensed banks, financial institutions and fintechs have until November 30, 2026 to apply, by email only.
- Projects involving crypto-assets are excluded from this call.
- According to Droit Média Finance, tests are due to last six months; the call itself gives no duration, number of places or selection criteria.
A fintech that wants to launch a new financial product in the WAEMU zone runs into a question the regulator has not always settled: which regulatory box does it fit in? To answer without blocking ideas, the BCEAO has a tool, the Financial Innovation Laboratory (LIF-BCEAO), and it has just opened applications for its first cohort.
The notice, published on the central bank’s website on October 14, 2026, is simple. Licensed institutions and fintechs wishing to join have until November 30, 2026 to submit a file. The lab offers them a controlled experimentation framework: the product is tried at small scale, under the central bank’s supervision, before any decision on a wider authorisation.
How to apply
- Applications are sent by email only, to courrier.zlif@bceao.int, no later than November 30, 2026.
- Participation conditions and how to put the file together are set out in the applicant’s guide, available on the BCEAO website under “Les FinTech dans l’UEMOA”.
- Questions go to the same address.
The call does not cover every project. It expressly rules out those involving crypto-assets, a subject the BCEAO handles separately. Beyond that, the text of the call draws up no list of use cases: applicants have to turn to the applicant’s guide.
Six months of testing, says a trade outlet
According to Droit Média Finance, the scheme is meant to allow six-month experiments; the lab reviews applications and evaluates the solutions at the end of the trial. The call itself does not give that duration. Nor does it say how many places the first cohort has, what the selection criteria are or when testing starts.
The initiative fits into the BCEAO’s policy towards fintechs in the union, which brings together Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The eight countries share one currency, the CFA franc, and one central bank. The text of the call does not say, however, whether a trial can be limited to a single country.
For young companies in Dakar, Abidjan or Lomé, the calendar is tight: less than five weeks remain before the deadline. Those who are hesitating have every reason to read the guide now, then write to the address given to settle their doubts before sending a full application.
- Appel à candidatures relatif à la première cohorte du Laboratoire d’innovation financière, BCEAO.
- Guide du candidat au LIF-BCEAO, BCEAO.
- UEMOA, sandbox réglementaire : la BCEAO lance la première cohorte des fintechs en excluant les cryptoactifs, Droit Média Finance.
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