The World Bank Group has signed on as co-chair of the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa, joining current co-chairs the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and Mastercard in an initiative to provide digital access to critical services for 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa by 2034.
The MADE Alliance: Africa aligns with the collective efforts of the three major institutions to accelerate digitalization by expanding access to secure, affordable, high-quality broadband and data connectivity, and ensuring different digital services work together seamlessly to benefit users. The World Bank Group will contribute to the initiative its expertise, data driven insights, and experience supporting sustainable digital transformation.
“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 MADE Alliance: Africa is prioritizing opportunities in the agriculture sector, where digital technologies can serve as powerful catalysts for development. World Bank-supported “Digital Agriculture Roadmaps,” tailored country action plans, will enable the MADE Alliance to impact more 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, which has committed $300 million to the first five years of MADE Alliance: Africa’s programming.
“The MADE Alliance: Africa brings complementary partners together to execute and implement programs that target the same regions and communities, allowing us to amplify our impact,” said Tara Nathan, Founder and Executive Vice President of Community Pass, Mastercard. “The World Bank brings enormous expertise in digital transformation and agriculture, and we are honored they have joined the alliance to deploy resources more efficiently and accelerate our work to help bring everyone into the digital economy.”
Since its May 2024 launch, the MADE Alliance: Africa has made significant progress with projects underway across the continent.
In Tanzania, the alliance is supporting the provision of payment tools to 50,000 sunflower farmers. In Kenya, alliance members have deployed affordable high-speed internet digital skills training for 13 farmers’ cooperatives, reaching approximately 10,000 farmers and their communities. The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation is receiving funding from the African Development Bank Group to build the capacity of 250,000 farmers in Kenya to improve their bankability to financial institutions.
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development also joined as a member in April 2025. Other MADE Alliance 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 Syngenta Foundation in Kenya and Nigeria.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contacts:
African Development Bank:
Alphonso Van Marsh,
Chief Digital Content and Events Officer,
African Development Bank,
email: media@afdb.org
World Bank Group:
Kelly Alderson,
Senior External Affairs Officer,
World Bank Group,
email: kalderson@worldbankgroup.org
Mastercard:
Jessica Jeng-Mitchell,
Director, Global Communications,
Mastercard,
email: Jessica.jeng-mitchell@mastercard.com
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org
About the World Bank Group:
The World Bank Group works to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet through a combination of financing, knowledge, and expertise. It consists of the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For more information, please visit www.WorldBank.org, ida.WorldBank.org/en/home, www.miga.org, www.IFC.org, and www.icsid.WorldBank.org.
About Mastercard:
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payment choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
