en.Wedoany.com Reported - To accelerate the implementation of digital public infrastructure in Africa, enhance financial inclusion, and strengthen the digital payment ecosystem, the AfricaNenda Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and Equity Group Holdings have formed a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to drive digital transformation across the continent and was officially announced in Nairobi.
The partnership will combine AfricaNenda's expertise in technology and ecosystem development with Equity Group's regional reach and strength in digital payments to advance the practical deployment of interoperable digital infrastructure in African markets. As a key initiative of this effort, Dr. James Mwangi, Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group, has been appointed as the Continental Digital Public Infrastructure Advocate, in recognition of his long-standing contributions to promoting an inclusive digital financial ecosystem.
Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO of AfricaNenda, stated at the signing ceremony that this partnership builds on Equity Group's existing achievements in promoting financial inclusion, with the goal of accelerating the rollout of digital public infrastructure in 20 to 30 African countries. He noted that despite significant expansion in digital financial services, nearly 400 million Africans still lack access to formal financial services, highlighting the urgency of strengthening public-private collaboration to move digital infrastructure initiatives from policy to implementation.
Under the agreement, the partners will jointly support the development of interoperable payment systems, drive innovation in digital payments and cross-border payment ecosystems, and participate in the deployment of government and merchant payment solutions. Related efforts will also involve regulatory engagement, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and knowledge sharing. The initiative also plans to build trusted digital identities, ensure secure data exchange, and enable seamless cross-border payments, thereby strengthening the digital foundation necessary to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Robert Karanja, Founder and Senior Advisor of DPI4Africa and a board member of the Mojaloop Foundation, stated that Dr. Mwangi's new appointment is a recognition of his leadership in digital transformation, and his role will help mobilize governments, regulators, development partners, and the private sector to accelerate the adoption of digital public infrastructure in Africa. Upon accepting the appointment, Dr. Mwangi noted that digital public infrastructure lays the foundation for Africa's next phase of economic transformation by providing inclusive digital financial services and expanding access to trusted digital platforms. He emphasized that the initiative aims to complement, not replace, government-led digital infrastructure efforts, and will drive progress by demonstrating how private sector collaboration can accelerate the deployment of digital identity systems, interoperable payments, and other essential digital services.
The Gates Foundation expressed support for this partnership, stating that the effectiveness of digital public infrastructure should be measured by its ability to improve people's lives, expand financial inclusion, and increase access to digital services. This collaboration further strengthens the coordination between Equity Group, AfricaNenda, and African governments and regulators, with a focus on demonstrating how digital public infrastructure can drive inclusive economic growth, expand financial accessibility, and robustly support the long-term development of Africa's digital economy.
