Mastercard and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have partnered to launch a $300m initiative called Mobilising Access to the Digital Economy Alliance: Africa. The initiative aims to expand digital access to critical services for 100 million individuals and businesses in Africa over the next decade. The initiative will prioritize supporting the agricultural sector and women's economic participation. An initial pilot program will be launched this year to support three million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria. The African Development Bank Group will invest $300m to support alliance programs, providing funding for digital infrastructure and incentivizing ecosystem actors to enhance digital access. Mastercard aims to register 15 million users in Africa onto its Community Pass platform within five years. The partners will deliver connectivity, skilling, employment, and digital access to financial and other critical services. The initiative aligns with the partners' goal of promoting sustainable digital access and inclusive growth in Africa.
The Federation of African Digital Businesses (FADB) has also been launched to boost Africa's digital economy. The FADB aims to address challenges and unlock growth opportunities in the digital sector. Key goals include improving the business environment, expanding digital access, and supporting entrepreneurship. The FADB is headquartered in Morocco and invites other African ICT organizations to join. The founding members of the FADB include APEBI du Maroc, ATCON of Nigeria, GOTIC of Côte d’Ivoire, REPTIC of Cameroon, ICT Chamber of Rwanda, PROTIC of Guinea-Conakry, Congo-Brazza Chamber of Commerce, and Djibouti Chamber of Commerce. [cc61c7e6] [9ca26391]