Founder and Senior Adviser DPI4Africa, Board Member Mojaloop Foundation, Robert Karanja, AfricaNenda Foundation CEO Dr Robert Ochola, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr James Mwangi (centre), AfricaNenda Deputy CEO Sabine Mensah; and Nanjira Sambuli, Senior Advocacy Manager, Africa (Inclusive Financial Systems and Digital Public Infrastructure), Gates Foundation, during the handing over of the symbolic plaque on the appointment of Dr Mwangi as the Continental Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Champion./HANDOUT
A new partnership aimed at accelerating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across Africa has been launched, with a focus on expanding financial inclusion, strengthening digital payment systems and supporting the continent's digital transformation.
The agreement brings together Equity Group, AfricaNenda Foundation and the Gates Foundation, while also naming Equity Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr James Mwangi as Africa's inaugural Continental Digital Public Infrastructure Champion.
Signed in Nairobi on Monday, the partnership combines AfricaNenda's technical and policy expertise with Equity Group's regional banking network and digital payments capabilities to accelerate the adoption of interoperable digital infrastructure across Africa.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, AfricaNenda Chief Executive Officer Dr Robert Ochola said the collaboration seeks to bridge the financial inclusion gap, noting that nearly 400 million Africans remain excluded from formal financial services.
"Nearly 400 million people across the continent remain excluded from formal financial services. Through this partnership, we want to build practical Digital Public Infrastructure models and scale them across 20 to 30 African markets," he said.
Ochola said private sector participation would be critical in translating digital infrastructure policies into practical solutions.
"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. We are delighted that Dr James Mwangi has accepted the role of championing this initiative across the continent," he added.
The partnership will support the development of interoperable payment systems, government and merchant payment solutions, cross-border payment ecosystems, regulatory engagement, technical assistance, knowledge sharing and policy advocacy.
Accepting the appointment, Dr Mwangi said Digital Public Infrastructure would lay the foundation for the next phase of Africa's economic transformation by making digital financial services more accessible.
"Digital Public Infrastructure provides the foundation for the next phase of Africa's economic transformation by enabling inclusive digital financial services that reach every citizen. With humility, I accept this appointment to champion this agenda across the continent," he said.
Mwangi added that the initiative is intended to complement government efforts rather than replace them.
"We are not asking governments to surrender ownership of public infrastructure. Instead, we are demonstrating how the private sector can partner with governments to accelerate the implementation of critical digital infrastructure such as digital identity and interoperable digital payments," he said.
Robert Karanja, founder and senior adviser at DPI4Africa and a board member of the Mojaloop Foundation, said Dr Mwangi's appointment would help mobilise governments, development partners and private sector institutions to accelerate the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa.
"His leadership will bring together a coalition of willing partners to accelerate the adoption and implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa," Karanja said.
The Gates Foundation said it is supporting the initiative to ensure digital infrastructure delivers tangible benefits for citizens.
"At the Gates Foundation, we believe building Digital Public Infrastructure is only the first step. The real measure of success is whether people use it to improve their lives. That is why we are proud to support AfricaNenda's partnership with Equity," said the foundation's Senior Advocacy Officer for Africa, Nanjira Sambuli.
AfricaNenda, which works with more than 30 central banks across the continent, said the partnership is expected to accelerate the practical implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure through stronger public-private collaboration while strengthening financial inclusion and cross-border payments across Africa.
