Africa: World Bank Group Joins MADE Alliance: Africa as Co-Chair to Advance Digital Inclusion

The World Bank Group has officially joined the Mobilising Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa as a co-chair, partnering with the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard to accelerate digital inclusion across the continent.

The alliance, launched in May 2024, is committed to connecting 100 million individuals and businesses in Africa to essential digital services by 2034. It focuses on expanding access to secure, affordable, and high-quality broadband connectivity while enhancing interoperability between digital services to improve user experiences.

With its extensive expertise in sustainable digital development, the World Bank Group brings technical insights, data capabilities, and global experience to the initiative.

“The World Bank Group is deeply committed to expanding inclusive digital access across Africa,” said Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital at the World Bank. “Joining the MADE Alliance will accelerate efforts to improve livelihoods, empower communities, and drive economic growth across the continent.”

A key focus of the alliance is the agriculture sector, where digital innovation holds significant potential. The World Bank’s Digital Agriculture Roadmaps, which offer country-specific action plans, will 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,” stated Dr Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at AfDB.
“The MADE Alliance: Africa brings us closer to achieving these goals by linking smallholder farmers to digital tools that improve productivity, market access, financing, and income.”

The African Development Bank has committed $300 million to support the first five years of the initiative.

Ongoing Projects Across Africa

Since its inception, MADE Alliance: Africa has begun implementing projects in multiple countries:

• Tanzania: 50,000 sunflower farmers are gaining access to digital payment tools.

• Kenya: 13 farmers’ cooperatives have received affordable high-speed internet and digital skills training, reaching over 10,000 farmers.

• Kenya National Farmers’ Federation is being supported to enhance the financial readiness of 250,000 farmers, funded by AfDB.

In April 2025, the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) joined the alliance, further expanding its reach.

Other notable members include:
Equity Bank Group, Microsoft, Heifer International, Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Unconnected.org, Yara, Shell Foundation, Tanzania’s CRDB Bank, and the Syngenta Foundation (Kenya and Nigeria).