Global powerhouses—Mastercard, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank—form coalition to lead significant African digital undertaking.

Global powerhouses—Mastercard, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the World Bank—form coalition to lead significant African digital undertaking.

The Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa Makes Strides in Agriculture

The MADE Alliance: Africa, a collaborative effort co-chaired by the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Mastercard, is making significant progress in advancing digital inclusion in the agriculture sector. This initiative aims to connect smallholder farmers to digital services that improve farming practices, access to markets, financing, and ultimately increase incomes.

Emphasis on Agriculture as a Core Priority

Agricultural digitalization is seen as a powerful catalyst for development. Tailored digital agriculture roadmaps guide implementation, supporting smallholder farmers through strategies that enable data interoperability, financing, and market access.

Financial Commitment and Partnerships

The African Development Bank has pledged $300 million over the first five years of the program, demonstrating a strong investment in improving food production and quality of life in Africa through digital transformation.

Collaborative Approach for Scaled Impact

The Alliance brings together complementary partners, including the World Bank's expertise in digital connectivity and agriculture, and Mastercard's experience in financial inclusion using platforms like Community Pass. This collaboration seeks to deliver scalable and affordable broadband and data infrastructure to reach 100 million individuals and businesses by 2034.

Targeted Outcomes

Enhanced digital connectivity facilitates more efficient farming, improved access to finance and markets, and greater food security, especially for smallholder farmers who are the backbone of African agriculture.

Tangible Results

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. In Tanzania, the alliance is supporting the provision of payment tools to 50,000 sunflower farmers.

Driving Economic Growth and Empowerment

The MADE Alliance: Africa aims to improve livelihoods, empower communities, and drive economic growth across the African continent. With projects underway across the continent since its launch in May 2024, the alliance is positioned as a transformative initiative driving Africa’s agricultural transformation through digital technologies.

Expert Leadership and Interoperable Systems

The World Bank Group will contribute its expertise, data-driven insights, and experience supporting sustainable digital transformation to the MADE Alliance: Africa. The alliance prioritizes opportunities in the agriculture sector, where digital technologies can serve as powerful catalysts for development. By leveraging expert leadership, substantial funding, and interoperable systems, the MADE Alliance: Africa seeks to mobilize broad-based economic benefits in the sector.

[1] World Bank. (n.d.). Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/mobilizing-access-to-the-digital-economy-made-alliance-africa

[2] African Development Bank. (n.d.). Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa. Retrieved from https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/mobilizing-access-to-the-digital-economy-made-alliance-africa

[3] Mastercard. (n.d.). Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa. Retrieved from https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/vision/sustainability/mobilizing-access-to-the-digital-economy-made-alliance-africa.html

Technology plays a crucial role in delivering scalable and affordable broadband and data infrastructure, as Mastercard uses its platforms like Community Pass to support the collaboration within the MADE Alliance: Africa.

Finance is a significant aspect of the MADE Alliance: Africa, with the African Development Bank pledging $300 million over the first five years of the program, investing in improving food production and quality of life in Africa through digital transformation.

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