Equity Group has joined forces with the AfricaNenda Foundation and the Gates Foundation to accelerate the rollout of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across Africa, a move aimed at making financial services more accessible, improving digital payments and boosting cross-border trade.
The partnership, unveiled in Nairobi on Tuesday, will begin in Rwanda before expanding to the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries. It will bring together governments, regulators and private sector players to develop interoperable payment systems, trusted digital identity platforms and secure data-sharing systems that allow people and businesses to access financial services more easily.
As part of the initiative, Equity Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr James Mwangi has been appointed Africa’s first Continental Digital Public Infrastructure Champion. In the new role, he will spearhead efforts to promote collaboration between governments, development partners and the private sector to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
The three organisations say the partnership comes at a time when Africa has made remarkable progress in mobile money adoption but millions of people remain outside the formal financial system. Nearly 400 million Africans still lack access to regulated financial services.
They believe stronger digital infrastructure will help close that gap by making financial transactions cheaper, faster and more secure while encouraging innovation and economic growth.
AfricaNenda Chief Executive Officer Dr Robert Ochola said meaningful implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure depends on active participation from the private sector.
“Digital Public Infrastructure cannot succeed without private-sector participation. Equity brings the execution capability, market reach and innovation needed to move this agenda from policy to implementation,” Ochola said.
The partnership will focus on expanding interoperable payment systems, improving merchant and government payment platforms, supporting seamless cross-border transactions, providing technical expertise and working with policymakers to accelerate the adoption of digital infrastructure across the continent.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Dr Mwangi described Digital Public Infrastructure as a key driver of Africa’s next phase of economic growth.
“Digital Public Infrastructure provides the foundation for inclusive digital financial services that reach every citizen. We will continue working with governments, regulators, development partners and the private sector because this infrastructure has the potential to transform economies, expand opportunity and improve lives across Africa,” he said.
The partners also said the initiative will strengthen the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making cross-border payments more efficient and enabling trusted digital identity and secure information exchange between participating countries. They expect this to lower transaction costs, simplify trade and unlock new business opportunities across Africa.
The Gates Foundation said its support is intended to ensure that Digital Public Infrastructure delivers tangible benefits to ordinary citizens by improving access to essential digital services, rather than serving only as a technology initiative.
Senior Advocacy Officer for Africa at the Gates Foundation, Nanjira Sambuli, said the ultimate goal is to use digital infrastructure to expand financial inclusion and improve people’s everyday lives.
AfricaNenda currently works with more than 30 central banks across Africa to strengthen instant payment systems. Through the new partnership with Equity Group, the organisation hopes to fast-track practical digital infrastructure solutions that can be replicated in multiple countries.
