In The Gambia, traditional online payment methods like credit cards are rarely used. Most people rely on mobile money apps for transactions, but integrating these into web applications presents unique challenges that developers in Europe rarely encounter. In this lightning talk, I’ll share practical lessons from 8 years of building payment solutions in a low-infrastructure environment. You’ll learn how we:

Redirected payment flows through popular mobile money apps instead of traditional payment gateways, creating seamless user experiences despite technical limitations.

Built for unreliable internet by designing Django applications that handle intermittent connectivity, implement smart retry logic, and provide offline-first features where possible.

Overcame adoption barriers by simplifying interfaces for users with limited technical knowledge, including those who can read but struggle with complex digital interactions.

Solved integration problems with local payment providers who often lack proper APIs or documentation, requiring creative workarounds and direct partnerships.

This talk will give you a different perspective on web development. While we often optimize for performance and scale, developers in emerging markets must also optimize for reliability, simplicity, and accessibility in ways that might surprise you. The technical solutions I will share apply to any market where infrastructure is a constraint, not just Africa. Whether you’re building for emerging markets or just want to understand how to make your applications more resilient and accessible, you will walk away with practical insights and a fresh appreciation for the diverse challenges developers face worldwide.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Web developers, Django developers, anyone interested in building for emerging markets or making applications more accessible and resilient.

OUTLINE: The Problem: Why traditional payment integration doesn’t work in The Gambia The Mobile Money Solution: How we redirect payment flows through local apps and handle the technical challenges Internet Reality: Building Django apps that work with unreliable connectivity Human Factors: Designing for users with limited technical literacy Key Takeaways: Lessons applicable to any developer building resilient applications