NAIROBI, Kenya — Equity Group, the AfricaNenda Foundation and the Gates Foundation have launched a new partnership aimed at accelerating the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across Africa to expand financial inclusion, strengthen digital payment systems and support cross-border trade.
The initiative, unveiled in Nairobi on Tuesday, will first be implemented in Rwanda before expanding to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries.
The partnership seeks to bring together governments, regulators and the private sector to develop interoperable digital payment systems, trusted digital identity platforms and secure data-sharing infrastructure, making financial services more accessible to millions of Africans.
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 his new role, he will advocate for stronger collaboration between governments, development partners and the private sector to drive Africa’s digital transformation.
Despite Africa’s rapid growth in mobile money adoption, the partners note that nearly 400 million people remain excluded from formal financial services. They believe interoperable digital infrastructure can help bridge this gap by lowering the cost of financial services, improving access to digital payments and fostering innovation across the continent.
AfricaNenda Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Ochola said the partnership builds on Equity Group’s long-standing efforts to promote financial inclusion and highlights the critical role of the private sector in implementing Digital Public Infrastructure.
“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 collaboration will focus on expanding interoperable payment systems, improving merchant and government payment solutions, supporting cross-border payment ecosystems, providing technical assistance and engaging policymakers to accelerate the adoption of digital infrastructure across Africa.
Speaking after the launch, Dr. Mwangi described Digital Public Infrastructure as a cornerstone of Africa’s next phase of economic transformation.
“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 support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enabling seamless cross-border payments, trusted digital identity systems and secure exchange of information among participating countries. They say these improvements will reduce transaction costs, improve efficiency and create new business opportunities across African markets.
The Gates Foundation said its support is aimed at ensuring Digital Public Infrastructure delivers tangible benefits to citizens by making digital services more accessible and inclusive.
Senior Advocacy Officer for Africa at the Gates Foundation, Nanjira Sambuli, said the true value of digital infrastructure lies in improving people’s daily lives through greater access to financial and other essential digital services.
AfricaNenda currently works with more than 30 central banks across Africa to strengthen inclusive instant payment systems. Through its collaboration with Equity Group, the organisation hopes to accelerate the rollout of practical digital infrastructure models that can be replicated across the continent.
Analysts say the partnership marks another significant step toward deeper public-private collaboration in Africa’s digital economy, where interoperable payment systems and trusted digital identities are increasingly viewed as critical drivers of economic growth, financial inclusion and regional integration.
