Managing Digital Payment Projects in a Developing Country: A Project Manager’s Guide

Pyae Moe Kyaw is the Head of Card Program and also Project Director for several major digital payment solutions at Kanbawza Bank @ KBZ Bank, with extensive experience leading successful initiatives in Myanmar’s evolving financial sector. With a strong background in project management and strategic execution, he has successfully overseen the launch of various digital payment products, contributing to the growth of financial inclusion in Myanmar.

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Topics: Government, Innovation, Marketing and Sales, Risk Management

As a project manager for several major digital payment solutions projects in Myanmar—including many debit, gift and prepaid card initiatives—I have encountered and navigated a variety of challenges unique to managing projects in a developing country. The road to successfully launching these products has been both rewarding and educational. These projects have not only tested my project management skills, but also allowed me to explore the complexities of delivering innovative financial products in an emerging market with a rapidly evolving regulatory, technological and cultural landscape.

Here, I’ll detail the key challenges faced during these projects, how I addressed them, and what I learned along the way.

Infrastructure Limitations
One of the most significant hurdles in executing digital payment projects in Myanmar is the country's evolving infrastructure. Myanmar's internet connectivity, limited access to smartphones in rural areas, and inconsistent power supply posed considerable challenges, especially in ensuring that our digital payment products could be accessed and used by a wide range of customers.

For instance, the UAB Visa Gift Card and UAB Couple Card required that customers be able to easily activate and manage their cards through mobile applications. However, internet penetration outside urban areas was limited, which could …

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