WORLD BANK JOINS FORCES WITH AfDB AND MASTERCARD TO DIGITALLY EMPOWER AFRICA’S FUTURE

World Bank joins Mastercard and AfDB to fast-track digital inclusion for 100 million Africans through the MADE Alliance.

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The World Bank Group joins MADE Alliance, partnering with Mastercard and AfDB

In a bold move set to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation, the World Bank Group has joined the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa as co-chair, partnering with Mastercard and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to bring digital access to 100 million people and businesses across the continent by 2034.

This high-impact alliance is uniting global development powerhouses and private sector leaders around a shared goal: expanding secure, affordable, high-quality broadband and ensuring seamless access to life-enhancing digital services in underserved African communities.

With the World Bank now on board, the MADE Alliance has gained a powerful engine of expertise, data, and funding. “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. “By bringing together our digital expertise, global knowledge, and local experience, we can help scale lasting, transformational impact.”

Launched in May 2024, MADE Alliance: Africa is already making waves. In Tanzania, 50,000 sunflower farmers are gaining access to digital payment tools. In Kenya, over 10,000 farmers and their communities are being connected through affordable high-speed internet and digital skills training. The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation is also receiving AfDB funding to empower 250,000 farmers with tools to improve their access to finance.

AfDB has committed $300 million over the first five years to support the alliance’s rollout, particularly in agriculture, a sector where digital technologies can dramatically increase productivity and market access. “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,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, AfDB Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

The initiative also benefits from a diverse group of partners, including Microsoft, Equity Bank Group, Heifer International, Yara, Shell Foundation, CRDB Bank of Tanzania, and Syngenta Foundation in Kenya and Nigeria. In April 2025, the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) joined the alliance, further strengthening its global backing.

Tara Nathan, Founder and Executive Vice President of Community Pass at Mastercard, emphasized the strength of collaboration: “The MADE Alliance brings complementary partners together to execute and implement programs targeting the same regions and communities, allowing us to amplify our impact.”

As the alliance scales, the focus will remain on building national “Digital Agriculture Roadmaps” and catalyzing digital ecosystems that are inclusive, sustainable, and scalable, aimed squarely at improving livelihoods, empowering communities, and unlocking economic growth across Africa.

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WORLD BANK JOINS FORCES WITH AfDB AND MASTERCARD TO DIGITALLY EMPOWER AFRICA’S FUTURE

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