New digital technologies are revolutionizing the financial services industry around the world. Africa has been an innovation hub in this area, due to its rapid adoption of mobile communication networks. How might the explosion of fintech platforms and applications be tapped to foster greater financial inclusion, especially for women, who are underserved by traditional banking? This scoping paper from the IDRC and Mastercard explores available evidence on the uptake of fintech in Africa and how it is changing the financial landscape.