Malawi is set to benefit from the Inclusive Digitalisation in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) programme, a World Bank initiative aimed at accelerating digitalisation across Africa. The $2.8 billion financing envelope, funded by the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, seeks to address key digital infrastructure and accessibility challenges in the region.
The IDEA programme will bring together 15 countries and regional economic communities to tackle issues such as limited internet coverage due to infrastructure gaps, high costs of data and devices, limited digital skills, and the lack of digital identification necessary for online transactions.
Victoria Kwakwa, Vice-President for the World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa region, highlighted the transformative potential of the programme. “This programme will unleash opportunities for hundreds of millions of Africans to actively participate in and contribute to the advancement of the region’s digital economies,” Kwakwa said. She emphasized the importance of public and private sector partnerships in driving sustainable economic growth.
Malawi, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, will participate in the first phase of the eight-year project. The initiative aims to provide new and enhanced broadband internet access to more than 50 million people in these three countries.
The programme’s goal is to bridge the digital divide and empower millions with the tools and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of the region’s digital economies.
