Orange Middle East and Africa and the International Finance Corporation have inked a partnership to strengthen digital access in eight African countries.
The partnership between the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) was signed during the Africa Chief Executive Officers’ Forum recently held in Abidjan.
OMEA and IFC are joining forces to develop more inclusive and sustainable digital connectivity in often underserved areas of West and Central Africa.
This unprecedented partnership aims to mobilize the complementary expertise of both actors.
The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group’s private sector-focused institution, will bring its expertise in development finance, while Orange is to capitalize on its local roots and strong network in the region.
Various telecommunications infrastructure construction and deployment projects, including towers, and fiber optic cables in the target countries will be carried out in the coming years.
This collaboration builds on initiatives already supported by IFC, such as supporting the first-ever securitization in the telecommunications sector in West Africa, as well as providing sustainable funding to Sonatel.
These two operations, for a total amount of approximately USD 75 million in 2024, allow Sonatel to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and expand 4G coverage and fiber-optic connectivity in rural areas of Senegal.
Together, the two partners aim to provide a replicable investment model aimed at bridging the digital divide, fostering financial inclusion, strengthening territorial resilience and creating jobs, particularly in the digital economy.
The Chief Executive of Orange Middle East and Africa, Jérôme Hénique says the partnership with IFC is a major step forward in accelerating their plans to bridge the digital divide through provision of quality, sustainable and accessible connectivity for as many people as possible.
“And that is especially in rural or underserved areas. By combining our forces, we want to build a more equitable digital future for all in Africa,” said Hénique.
“Increasing access to digital connectivity in Africa is a key priority for fostering innovation, broadening financial inclusion and generating employment opportunities,” added Ethiopis Tafara, the Vice President of IFC for Africa.
“The strengthening of our partnership with Orange Middle East and Africa illustrates our commitment to positioning digital as a strategic lever for sustainable economic transformation, to the benefit of individuals and companies,” Tafara maintained.