In a landmark initiative designed to transform the digital landscape of Eastern and Southern Africa, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in partnership with the World Bank, has inaugurated a £2 billion (US$2.5 billion) programme to extend internet access to an estimated 180 million people over the next eight years.
Launched in Zambia on Monday, the initiative seeks to provide not only widespread internet connectivity but also digitally enabled services to 100 million individuals across the region. The project adopts a multiphase programme-based approach, consolidating financing mechanisms among participating nations and stakeholders. This will support the development of universal digital access, promote the productive use of digital technologies, and facilitate the integration of regional digital markets.
The initiative will specifically target women, refugees, host communities, small and medium-sized enterprises, and public institutions, aiming to reduce market fragmentation and encourage private sector innovation. Isabel Neto, World Bank’s Digital Development Practice Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa, emphasised the importance of fostering a more cohesive and inclusive digital ecosystem to drive economic growth and resilience.
COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Kapwepwe underscored the programme’s multidimensional strategy, highlighting the imperative to incentivise private investment, improve regulatory frameworks, consider gender disparities, and address climate change. The design includes dedicated support for policy enhancement and the preparation of bankable projects that can attract both public and private funding.
The initial phase of the programme includes a US$10 million grant to the COMESA Secretariat, complemented by US$780 million earmarked for Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Malawi. In total, over 15 countries are expected to participate, in collaboration with regional economic communities and international development partners.
As of 2023, only 64 percent of the region’s population had access to high-speed internet, with merely 24 percent actively using the internet. The programme thus aspires to bridge the digital divide, transforming connectivity into a conduit for sustainable socio-economic development.
