Mastercard and the African Development Bank Group have launched the Mobilising Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa, an ambitious initiative aimed at providing digital access to 100 million people and businesses across Africa within the next decade. The initiative was announced at the US-Africa Business Forum, hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, underscoring a commitment to digital transformation in Africa.
The MADE Alliance will initially focus on the agricultural sector and women, starting with a pilot program in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria. The program will support three million farmers by providing digital identities and access to agricultural inputs, leveraging Mastercard’s Community Pass platform. This effort aligns with the US Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative and the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa, fostering partnerships to enhance digital infrastructure and access.
The African Development Bank Group will invest $300 million to support the MADE Alliance, reinforcing its commitment to digital inclusion and economic growth. Mastercard plans to register 15 million users onto its Community Pass platform, expanding access to critical services. The initiative also includes collaborations with the US Department of Commerce and EdTech Africa to enhance educational exchanges and provide digital marketplaces for smallholder farmers.
More than half a dozen organizations have committed to participate in the MADE Alliance: Africa, including Equity Bank, Microsoft, Heifer International, Unconnected.org, and Syngenta Foundation. The African Development Bank Group and Mastercard will serve as initial co-chairs of the alliance, guiding its efforts to amplify digital access and economic opportunities across the continent.
Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, emphasized, “Mastercard’s work leading the new MADE Alliance: Africa aims to provide 100 million people greater digital access to critical services. This Alliance builds on the innovations and investments we are already making to enhance Africa’s digital infrastructure and accelerate inclusive growth.”
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted the potential of digitalization to increase the adoption of agricultural technologies and improve incomes for millions of African smallholder farmers. He added, “Joining the MADE Alliance: Africa will amplify the impact of the Bank’s investments to build sustainable, climate-smart food systems across the continent.”
The MADE Alliance: Africa represents a significant effort to foster digital inclusion through public-private partnerships. By bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors, the alliance aims to create scalable, accessible, and affordable technology solutions that enable more people to participate in the digital economy and drive economic growth in Africa.
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