In a transformative move poised to reshape the digital future of eastern and southern Africa, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the World Bank have launched a groundbreaking $2.5 billion program aimed at bringing internet access to 180 million people and delivering digital services to 100 million more over the next eight years.

Announced Monday in Lusaka, Zambia, the initiative targets some of the region’s most pressing challenges limited digital access, market fragmentation, and regulatory gaps by fostering inclusive connectivity and economic opportunity. The program will specifically focus on empowering marginalized groups including women, refugees, and host communities, while also boosting private and public sector capacity.

“This is more than a connectivity project. It’s a platform for innovation, job creation, and regional integration,” said Isabel Neto, Digital Development Practice Manager for the World Bank. “By reducing market fragmentation and investing in infrastructure, we can unlock vast economic potential.”

The project employs a multiphase programmatic approach, pooling financing across multiple countries to build a unified digital ecosystem. The first phase includes a $10 million grant for the COMESA Secretariat, along with $780 million earmarked for digital development operations in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Malawi.

COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Kapwepwe highlighted the program’s strategic focus on attracting private investment, enhancing policy and regulatory environments, and addressing cross-cutting issues like gender equity and climate change.

Currently, only 64% of the region’s population is covered by high-speed internet, and just 24% were actively using the internet in 2023. The new program aims to close that gap by involving over 15 countries, regional economic communities, and development partners in a collaborative effort to build a digitally inclusive sub-region.

With its wide scope and deep impact, this initiative marks a critical step toward transforming Africa’s digital divide into a digital dividend.