Project Management Institute (PMI) has recognised Safaricom’s m-pesa as one of the top 10 most influential finance projects of the last 50 years in its 2019 Most Influential Projects list.

The 12-year old service further stood out by being recognised among the Top 50 Most Influential Projects in the last five decades.

A group of 400 leaders in the global project management community, including PMI chapter leaders and members, as well as academics and industry experts, considered more than 1,000 projects.

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“We are honoured to receive this accolade and global recognition which is a true testament to our impact on society. This recognition further underlines M-PESA’s commitment to our customers and its transformation to the country which has seen financial inclusion in Kenya grow by more than 50 per cent in the last 12 years to stand at more than 82 per cent today,” said Michael Joseph, CEO Safaricom.

To meet the standards of recognition, the project list identified efforts that changed the world, shaped lives, and altered the DNA of the organisations and the companies that launched them.

The list is part of PMI’s 50th-anniversary celebration that includes various activities to recognise the important role project management has played over the past five decades and celebrate where the profession is going.

M-PESA’s impact extends through its ecosystem of more than 1,100 suppliers, 400 active dealers and more than 167,000 agents who benefit directly from the service. It has also contributed up to Sh75 billion in revenue to Safaricom and has grown to serve more than 26 million active customers today.