Mastercard and African Development Bank Launch MADE Alliance to Boost Digital Access for 100m Africans

Mastercard, in partnership with the African Development Bank Group, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at expanding digital access across Africa. The Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa is set to extend digital services to 100 million individuals and businesses over the next decade. This ambitious project was announced during the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Focus on Agriculture and Women

The MADE Alliance will initially target the agricultural sector and women, beginning with a pilot program this year. This program aims to support three million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria by providing digital identities and access to high-quality seeds and agricultural inputs through partnerships with local banks. The initiative plans to expand to Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, and other regions across the continent.

“Mastercard’s work leading the new MADE Alliance: Africa aims to provide 100 million people greater digital access to critical services,” said Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard. “Across Africa, people are driving new growth and opportunity, and Mastercard wants to support their success. This Alliance builds on the innovations and investments we are already making with partners in 45 countries to enhance Africa’s digital infrastructure and accelerate inclusive growth.”

Investment and Digital Infrastructure

The African Development Bank Group has committed $300 million to support the Alliance’s programs. This funding will bolster digital infrastructure and incentivize ecosystem participants to enhance digital access. Mastercard aims to register 15 million users in Africa onto its Community Pass platform within five years, promoting interoperable digital infrastructure to facilitate involvement from various ecosystem participants.

Launched in 2020, Community Pass is a social enterprise by Mastercard that connects remote, underserved communities to essential services provided by governments, NGOs, and the private sector.

“The African Development Bank Group believes that digitalization via Mastercard Community Pass can play a vital role in increasing the adoption of agricultural technologies to help feed Africa, as well as improve incomes of millions of African smallholder farmers. Joining the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy Alliance: Africa will amplify and multiply the impact of the Bank’s investments to build sustainable, climate-smart food systems across the continent,” said African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina.

Building an Inclusive Digital Ecosystem

The success of the MADE Alliance relies on a robust ecosystem of public and private sector partners. The initiative matches partners’ complementary strengths to promote sustainable digital access. Partners already committed to the MADE Alliance include Equity Bank, Microsoft, Heifer International, Unconnected.org, and Syngenta Foundation.

The Alliance’s efforts support the U.S. Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative (DTA) and the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (DTS). These initiatives align with other significant projects announced this year, including collaborations with the International Trade Administration and partnerships focused on education and technology, such as EdTech Africa.

Empowering Smallholder Farmers and Entrepreneurs

A notable partnership involves Mastercard Community Pass, the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, the Shell Foundation, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This collaboration provides smallholder farmers access to a digital marketplace and affordable credit for clean energy tools, enhancing farmers’ incomes and supporting sustainable practices.

By bringing together leaders from both the public and private sectors, the MADE Alliance aims to create accessible, affordable, and trusted digital tools that can be scaled to enable more people to join the digital economy. This initiative marks a significant step towards inclusive digital growth and economic development across Africa.