The World Bank Group has joined the Mobilising Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa as a co-chair, alongside existing co-chairs the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard.
The initiative aims to provide digital access to essential services for 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa by 2034.
The MADE Alliance: Africa brings together leading institutions committed to accelerating digital transformation by expanding access to secure, affordable and high-quality broadband and data connectivity.
It also seeks to ensure interoperability between digital services to improve the user experience.
The World Bank Group will contribute its technical knowledge, data insights and experience in supporting sustainable digital development.
“The World Bank Group is deeply committed to expanding inclusive digital access across Africa, and joining the MADE Alliance will help accelerate efforts to improve livelihoods, empower communities and drive economic growth across the continent,”
said Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital at the World Bank.
“By bringing together our digital expertise, global knowledge, and local experience, we can help scale lasting, transformational impact.”
The alliance is prioritising the agriculture sector, where digital tools have the potential to support development outcomes.
World Bank-supported Digital Agriculture Roadmaps, which provide country-specific action plans, will help guide the alliance’s engagement with farmers.
“Two of the African Development Bank Group’s priority areas are to Feed Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The MADE Alliance: Africa brings us closer to achieving those goals by connecting the continent’s smallholder farmers to digital services that lead to greater food production, greater access to markets, financing and farming practices, as well as to increased incomes,”
said Dr Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank.
The bank has committed US$300 million to the first five years of the initiative.
Since its launch in May 2024, MADE Alliance: Africa has begun implementing projects across various countries.
In Tanzania, 50,000 sunflower farmers are being supported with access to digital payment tools.
In Kenya, alliance members have introduced affordable high-speed internet and digital skills training to 13 farmers’ cooperatives, benefiting approximately 10,000 farmers and their communities.
The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation is receiving funding from the African Development Bank Group to enhance the financial readiness of 250,000 farmers.
In April 2025, the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development joined as a member.
Other members include Equity Bank Group, Microsoft, Heifer International, Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Unconnected.org, Yara, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation, Shell Foundation, Tanzania’s CRDB Bank, and the Syngenta Foundation in Kenya and Nigeria.
Featured image credit: World Bank
