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By Mulengera Reporters
A new partnership between Equity Group, AfricaNenda Foundation and the Gates Foundation is set to accelerate the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across Africa, with the partners targeting greater financial inclusion, stronger digital payment systems and seamless cross-border trade.
The alliance, unveiled in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, will initially be rolled out in Rwanda before expanding to the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African markets. It seeks to bring together governments, regulators and the private sector to build interoperable digital payment systems, trusted digital identities and secure data exchange platforms that make financial services more accessible and efficient across the continent.
In a major outcome of the partnership, Equity Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. James Mwangi has been named Africa’s inaugural Continental Digital Public Infrastructure Champion. In the new role, he will spearhead advocacy for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners and private sector players to advance Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
The partners noted that although Africa has made remarkable progress in mobile money adoption, nearly 400 million people remain excluded from formal financial services. They believe interoperable digital public infrastructure will bridge that gap by lowering the cost of financial services, expanding access to digital payments and creating an enabling environment for innovation across the economy.
AfricaNenda Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Ochola said the collaboration builds on Equity Group’s longstanding commitment to financial inclusion and demonstrates the indispensable role of the private sector in delivering 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 partnership will focus on developing interoperable payment systems, strengthening merchant and government payment solutions, supporting cross-border payment ecosystems, providing technical assistance and engaging policymakers to accelerate the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure across Africa.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Dr. Mwangi described Digital Public Infrastructure as the next frontier of Africa’s economic transformation, saying it provides the foundation upon which governments, businesses and innovators can build inclusive digital services.
“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.
According to the partners, the initiative will also support 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. These capabilities are expected to reduce transaction costs, improve efficiency and unlock new opportunities for businesses operating across African markets.
The Gates Foundation said its support for the initiative is driven by the need to ensure Digital Public Infrastructure delivers tangible benefits to citizens rather than remaining solely a technology initiative.
Senior Advocacy Officer for Africa at the Gates Foundation, Nanjira Sambuli, said the true value of Digital Public Infrastructure lies in expanding financial inclusion and improving people’s daily lives through accessible digital services.
AfricaNenda currently works with more than 30 central banks across the continent to strengthen inclusive instant payment systems. Through its collaboration with Equity Group, the organisation expects to accelerate implementation of practical digital infrastructure models that can be replicated across multiple African markets.
Analysts view the partnership as another milestone in deepening public-private collaboration in Africa’s digital economy, where interoperable payment systems and trusted digital identity are increasingly recognised as essential infrastructure for economic growth, financial inclusion and regional integration. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
