--- title: World Bank initiative aims to boost digital economy in three African countries - Developing Telecoms description: The World Bank Group (WBG) Board of Directors earlier this week approved what is described as a transformative regional initiative that will directly boost job creation in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It includes a strong focus on digital infrastructure. canonical_url: https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers/19949-world-bank-initiative-aims-to-boost-digital-economy-in-three-african-countries.html language: en-GB date: 2026-03-13T12:54:17Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers/19949-world-bank-initiative-aims-to-boost-digital-economy-in-three-african-countries.html. 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[Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html)## World Bank initiative aims to boost digital economy in three African countries The World Bank Group (WBG) Board of Directors earlier this week approved what is described as a transformative regional initiative that will directly boost job creation in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It includes a strong focus on digital infrastructure. This second operation under the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Programme (WARDIP), totalling US$137 million, aims to strengthen the foundations for a dynamic digital economy through expanding and upgrading the digital infrastructure needed for competitiveness, fostering a more business‑friendly environment, and enabling businesses to scale and operate across regional markets. WBG says that WARDIP2, as the initiative is known, will increase broadband access, financing and usage in participating countries and enable an environment for cross-border digital services in Western Africa. It is claimed that approximately 5.2 million people will be connected to new or enhanced broadband internet across the three countries, and 5.4 million new users will access digitally enabled services. Michel Rogy, World Bank Digital and AI Regional Practice Director explains thar the initiative “addresses one of the region’s most persistent challenges: high-cost and unreliable connectivity that limit competitiveness and people’s access to digital opportunities”. Through major investments in digital infrastructure, says WBG, the project will expand resilient broadband networks, increase international connectivity, and strengthen data centre capacity, laying the groundwork for new digital jobs and improved public and private sector service delivery. At the same time, it will invest in people by supporting digital skills training for 9,000 individuals, including women and youth, and expanding opportunities in AI, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. In addition, says Marina Wes, Acting World Bank Regional Integration Director for Africa: “By harmonising regulations, modernising digital governance, and improving competition across regional markets, WARDIP2 creates a more predictable and investment-friendly environment." She adds: "Its support to the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), regulatory reforms in participating countries, and measures that lower deployment costs while expanding access to affordable, high‑quality connectivity are critical to deepening regional integration, unlocking private capital and creating jobs.” To help businesses scale, WARDIP2 will strengthen digital entrepreneurship ecosystems, expand digital financial services, and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups with seed financing, market access and cross‑border digital trade opportunities. WARDIP was launched in November 2023 to expand internet access and to promote a single digital market in West Africa. It’s first operation is supporting The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania. ## More Articles you may be Interested in... ```json { "@context": "http:\/\/schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "author": { "@id": "https:\/\/devtelecoms.com\/#vaughan_o_grady_640e701a34" }, "dateModified": "2026-03-13T12:54:17Z", "datePublished": "2026-03-13T12:54:17Z", "description": "The World Bank Group (WBG) Board of Directors earlier this week approved what is described as a transformative regional initiative that will directly boost job creation in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. 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